Poetic Techniques Employed by Robert Herrick Essay

Much of the poetry of the 17th century was heavily romantic, focusing on damsels and decadent parties where the Roman wine God Bacchaus ruled supreme. Amongst the movements’ teachings was the idea of â€Å"Carpe Diem† – the Latin phrase for â€Å"seize the day†. Herrick, fascinated by this ancient philosophy, centred many of his poems on the theme, cautioning people to use their time wisely. Robert Herrick was one of the â€Å"Tribe of Ben†, a group of poets who followed and were inspired by the works of the dramatist Ben Jonson. The Cavalier Poets were seen as followers of Ben Jonson because, in the words of Professor Jennifer Mooney, â€Å"they drank with, rhymed with and modeled themselves after Jonson.† The name â€Å"Cavalier† was given to the group as they were a movement who believed in living life to the full. Anniina Jokinen states: â€Å"They treat life cavalierly, indeed, and sometimes they treat poetic convention cavalierly too† They glorified the ordinary rather than great historical or fantastical epics. However it is not only this group of poets that Herrick is connected with, but with the Carpe Diem poets such as Andrew Marvell who was the author of the famous â€Å"To His Coy Mistress† and Christopher Marlowe. This dissertation will look at the texts: â€Å"All Things Decay and Die†, â€Å"To Live Merrily and To Trust to Good Verses†, â€Å"To Daffodils†, â€Å"To Bed of Tulips†, â€Å"Corinna’s Gone a Maying† and the famous â€Å"To the Virgins to Make Much of Time†. Each of these poems are very similar, however there are many differences that render them unique. This dissertation aims to analyse Herricks’ carpe diem poetry by studying the techniques employed by Robert Herrick in his exploration of the concept. One reason why Robert Herrick’s poetry is so successful is because it is simple. Part of this simplicity is helped by symbolism that is used to mirror the ideas of mortality and carpe diem. These symbols are universally understood and give the poems not only richness but also an element of clarity that is gracefully treated. This simplicity is brilliantly evident in â€Å"To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time†: â€Å"Gather Ye rosebuds while ye may Old Time is still a flying But this same flower that smiles today Tomorrow will be Dying.† This first stanza displays Herrick’s effective simplicity. Sarah Gilead states that the first line is the â€Å"distillation of the carpe diem message† as it states a mere fact of life: we are here for a limited time only and we must use our time wisely. It is the universality that has made Herrick’s poetry last throughout the ages. He uses parallels that are everlasting. The rosebuds in this stanza symbolize the fruits of life – things we set out to gain in our lives. The â€Å"rosebuds† could be anything – they could be ordinary material objects such as a house, or something more sentimental like love. Herrick advises us though, to get them while we are young, for youth quickly dies. Therefore the rosebuds not only symbolize the objects and aspirations of life, but life its self for we too â€Å"tomorrow will be dying†. A similar use of flowers as a symbol of the briefness of life is evident in â€Å"To Blossoms†: â€Å"Fair pledges of a fruitful tree, Why do ye fall so fast?† Blossom is, of course, the blooming of flowers. However, despite their obvious beauty, they quickly wither and die. In this poem Herrick looks upon the dying blossoms of a tree. Through this Herrick sees that these blossoms show how it is the nature of all things to pass away. This is evident as Herrick describes how in its leaves one can read â€Å"how soon things can end†, and by saying: â€Å"Like you awhile, they glide Into the grave.† Thus, Herrick is comparing the lives of blossom, to the lives of humans to find that they are both the same: they are both mortal and must die. By choosing something like Blossom that passes away so quickly, Herrick exaggerates the shortness of the human life span but in doing so reveals that we too life for only a brief time. This idea is also shown in â€Å"All Things Decay and Die†, which concerns itself not with flowers, but rather with the mighty trees of the forest. Again Herrick shows how no one is invincible by showing that even the mightiest of trees has to â€Å"decay and die†. Nothing withstands time but time itself. Herrick portrays this theme by using the idea of trees. Trees, unlike blossoms, live for hundreds of years. Yet they are not immortal and must therefore die. Herrick displays this by writing: â€Å"The sovereign of all plants, the oak Droops, dies and falls without the cleavers stroke.† What is interesting is the use of the word â€Å"sovereign† as it’s connotations to royalty and King. This concept of power and nobility is repeated earlier in the poem when the oak is described as â€Å"the proud dictator of a state like wood†, which once more implies strength, power and authority. So why does Herrick use such words to describe a tree? The answer is because he wanted to show that the mighty fall as well – that they are not immune to the rules of the cosmos. Therefore it is evident that through the use of vegetation Herrick has created a simple, yet effective parallel of human life that explains just how short our lives are and illustrates why exactly we should â€Å"seize the day†. Herrick’s poetry, though, has other ideas which illuminate the theme of carpe diem. The flowers in â€Å"To the Virgins† and â€Å"To a Bed of Tulips† not only symbolize life, but are used to represent virgin women. These two poems urge the virgins â€Å"Be not coy, but use your time And while ye may go marry: For having lost but once your prime You may forever tarry.† Robert Herrick strikes a note here as it is human nature to put things off and to say â€Å"There’s always tomorrow†, but if we â€Å"forever tarry† then we shall never do what we planned – time will catch up on us. In other words: seize the day! â€Å"To a Bed of Tulips† has an almost identical last stanza as again Herrick repeats his message to those unmarried maidens by saying – â€Å"Come virgins, then and see Your frailties, and bemoan ye For, lost like these, twill be As time has never known ye† Once more Robert Herrick is drawing a parallel between his two subjects as he compares these virgins with the Tulips. In this final stanza he describes the virgins as frail and insignificant in the world. This mirrors the rest of the poem as the tulips â€Å"quickly wither† and that they, like the virgins, will die â€Å"even as the meanest flower.† However, these stanzas’ show another side of Herrick which, four hundred years after these poems were written, is not quite as popular. To the modern reader, who may regard these stanzas as sexist, might find these final verses as an anti climax. After three beautifully lyrical verses of flowers and rising suns, a final stanza describing marriage as a woman’s greatest ambition is not going to appeal to the career woman of the 21st century. So why, then, are these poems still popular in our modern times? The answer is quite simply that the earlier  verses with their simple imagery and the parallels of the sun and flowers make up for a somewhat dated ideology. Flowers though are not the only use of symbolism in Herrick’s writings. The sun and its daily path of sunrise and sunset has also featured in some of his poems. For example in â€Å"To the Virgins† the second stanza begins: â€Å"As yet the early-rising sun Has not attain’d his noon.† This shows how the suns rising and setting are used to symbolize the cycle of life. Perhaps not an uncommon thing in literature or religion, but effective as it not only parallels life and death but it also holds links to the idea of heaven and eternal life – an ironic feature in poems about mortality. The connection with heaven is evident in â€Å"To the Virgins† when in verse two Herrick states: â€Å"The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun The higher he’s a getting The sooner will his race be run And nearer he is to setting.† What Herrick is saying here is that time is wearing on and that life is drawing to a close for the sun is almost setting on a day and on a life. However it is the first line in this stanza – â€Å"The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun† – that is the most effective. It has connotations with God, the land of eternal youth and happiness – the immortality that does not exist in our physical world. The word â€Å"glorious† makes the sun seem dazzling, brilliant, and because â€Å"glory† is also a biblical term, it echoes this link with God and heaven. â€Å"Lamp† though is a curious term to be used to describe something of such importance and beauty. Yet it works, for the sun is the  light of Heaven, which all people hope to be our final destination and homeland. Roger B Rollin says in his study of Herricks’ poetry that the rules of the atmosphere mirror the rules of all life – whether it be animal or plant, and that we are f ated to die before we come to our prime. This argument is extremely accurate as the sun’s daily routine of rising and setting is a mirror of human life that begins in child hood and ends in a withering old age. As Herrick has used symbolism and imagery expertly in his work he has created many beautiful poems which, despite outdated views on the role of women in society, remain favourite verses in this modern world of equal opportunity. Another reason though, why Herrick’s poems are still popular today is his cultural experimentation: namely the influence of Greek and classical mythology in his writings. Greek mythology, which appears frequently in Herrick’s writings, has greatly influenced his poetry. H. R. Swardson says: â€Å"all the girls are Antheas and Julias and Corinnas and even the ‘sea-scourged merchant’ is going to Ithaca.† In fact such is this influence that some critiques suggest that it shows a devotion to the pagan spirit. However as Robert H Denning states: â€Å"It is a humanistic fusion which is neither exclusively Christian nor classical-pagan, but rather an imaginative blend.† This â€Å"imaginative blend† creates what Denning describes as â€Å"ceremonial universality† – meaning that the poem can appeal ceremonially to all faiths and generations. This is most clearly seen in â€Å"Corinna’s Going A Maying† where classical myths are used in harmony with more Christian ideas and rituals to describe the idyllic English countryside in spring. For example, in the first stanza Herrick describes the birds as singing â€Å"hymns† and it being a â€Å"sin† to still be inside at Dawn. However, whilst these two references are plainly Christian the description of the â€Å"Titan† on the eastern hill is distinctly classical. The celebration of May is also heaped in lore as its many myths show that it is a pagan festival about fertility when sexual relations, which were generally not accepted in Herrick’s day,  were tolerated. May Day is used in â€Å"Corinna’s Gone A Maying† as a celebration of youth. This is effective as May Day is the gathering of spring and spring is youth. This is evident in the poem as Herrick writes: â€Å"There’s not a budding boy or girl this day But is got up and gone to bring in May; A deal of youth, ere this, is come† This describes the festive spirit of the occasion: a mood that is portrayed so often in Herrick’s writings. By depicting the boys and girl’s as â€Å"budding† he reflects the setting of the warm spring day and the flowers opening in the sun of May. Herrick also shows that it is a celebration of youth by saying it is the boys and girls getting up and describing the youth as coming to bring in May. However the moral holiday is evident later in the poem when Herrick says: â€Å"Many a kiss, both odd and even; Many a glance, too, has been sent From out the eye, love’s firmament† This part of the poem exhibits the social looseness of May Day as Herrick illustrates the flirtatious nature of the day by describing how the kisses are both â€Å"odd and even† which gives the impression that many advances have been made that day. Also, by writing how love has been sealed by looks from â€Å"out the eye† Herrick shows the festivity and the sexual nature of the day. Swardson suggests though, that Herrick is only able to create this relaxed atmosphere in a strict society because â€Å"†¦the classical framework or setting allows a temporary suspension of Christian standards. It may provide, in the modern phrase, a ‘moral holiday'† . In other words, because Herrick uses both strict Christian doctrines and the more liberal atmosphere of pagan May Day and classical ideas he is able to write a poem using looser  morals than would normally be allowable. This ‘moral holiday’ that Swardson describes is essential in Carpe Diem poetry for Christian guidelines generally promoted patience, simplicity and in some factions it discouraged the art of merry making. Herrick though, uses the looser principles of Paganism along in harmony with Christianity to create a legitimate, but festive setting. The festive setting is fundamental in Herricks’ poetry as he uses it to mirror the idea of living life to the full and seizing the day. This technique is evident in â€Å"To Live Merrily and to Trust to Good Verses† as once more classical mythology plays its part. This poem is about the ‘ceremony of mirth’ and uses mythology to create as in â€Å"Corrinna’s Gone a Maying†, a loose and festive setting in which to portray the theme of seizing the day. â€Å"To Live Merrily and to Trust to Good Verses† follows typical Herrick structure in its simplicity and lyrical style. Each verse toasts a classical writer like Homer. However the poem starts by describing the flowering earth. â€Å"Now is the time for mirth, Nor cheek or tongue be dumb; For with the flow’ry earth The golden pomp is come.† Swardson says in his article â€Å"Herrick and the Ceremony of Mirth† that the festivity of the moment is associated with the flowering of the earth (spring). This is evidently very similar to Corinna’s Gone A Maying which also uses the gaiety of May Day as a platform for the theme of seizing the day. The theme of this poem is slightly different than others though as Herrick recognizes that there is an element of immortality in writing – after all Homer and Ovid were all writers many centuries before and yet they were alive in Herrick’s day , and are still alive in ours through their art. Swardson describes this by saying: â€Å"Death is conquered not by renouncing the ‘frail world’ whose beauty dies, in favour of an everlasting other world, but by realizing most successfully the beauty and mirth in the natural world. Thus you do not abjure verses but ‘trust to good verses’.† Swardson explains how by recognizing the magnificence of this temporary world, rather than be loyal to that of the next you can become immortal. This is evident in his poetry as it consistently conveys the beauty of the world. Therefore Herrick sees his poetry as immortalizing himself. The poem â€Å"His Poetry His Pillar† displays this theory as it describes how Herrick fears ensuing death and hopes that his poetry shall remain when he is gone. This is an uncommon idea in Carpe Diem poetry. The majority of writers in this movement wrote poems that seemed â€Å"as fleeting as life and youth themselves† in the hope of convincing their lover to cast caution to the wind. The Sonneteers though, wrote poetry for a reason similar to Herrick – in the hope that they and their loves could become immortal. Part of â€Å"To Live Merrily and to Trust to Good Verses† festivity though, is due to its structure. The majority of Herrick’s poetry uses a simple ABAB rhyme scheme, and â€Å"To Live Merrily† is no exception. Although the poem is longer than the majority of Herrick’s poetry (which is usually no more than four verses long) is simple rhyme scheme and flowing verse help to mirror the party atmosphere in which the poem is set. The majority of Herrick’s poetry is lyrical – short and songlike. Most of his poems are no more than four verses and use only six to seven syllables per line. This factor, and the simple rhyme scheme create a quick and fast flowing lyrical verse. This is apparent in the poem â€Å"To a Bed of Tulips†. â€Å"Bright Tulips, we do know You had you’re coming hither And fading time does know That ye must quickly wither.† This technique results in a poem that is short and to the point (another similarity between Herrick and his fellow Cavaliers). This simple, song-like rhythm and rhyme scheme are very effective as they help to create that joyful party atmosphere that is so well portrayed in â€Å"To Live Merrily† and to Trust to Good Verses†. However another interpretation sometimes offered is that this flowing rhythm mirrors the reality of mortality. Critic Gordon Braden describes Herrick’s lyrical style as almost childlike for he says in his book â€Å"The Classics and English Renaissance Poetry† that Herrick’s poetry is like: â€Å"That of childlike discovery and amazement, a short but bright faculty of attention continually distracted by something new.† This is evident as in â€Å"To the Virgins† each parallel – the sun, flowers, the description of youth – are all dealt with quickly before Herrick begins his new channel of thought. The idea of Herricks’ poetry as being child-like in aspects is also evident in his subject matter as although his theme is serious, his glorification of the sun and of the festive party atmosphere creates something more playful and fun. Yet not all Herrick’s lyrical poems comply with the same structure. â€Å"To Blossoms† and â€Å"To Daffodils† are both slightly more erratic and complex in rhythm and rhyme. â€Å"To Blossoms† consists of one stanza of eighteen lines, its rhyme scheme is In â€Å"To Daffodils† we have two stanzas of eleven lines with only the occasional rhyme such as â€Å"soon† and â€Å"noon† and â€Å"spring† and â€Å"thing.† The number of syllables in these two poems is also not consistent. In â€Å"To Blossoms† lines range from having four to eight syllables and in â€Å"To Daffodils† there is from two to seven. These poems, you assume on first glance, would have a more rambling rhythm rather than flowing style of the majority of Herrick’s other poems, and yet when read the poems retain Herrick’s musical sound. This is maintained simply by the combination of both styles. For example at the start of â€Å"To Daffodils† we have his more regular sound: â€Å"Fair Daffodils, we weep to see You haste away so soon As yet the early rising sun Has not attained his noon.† This first part of the poem uses the iambic foot. What this means is that the stresses fall on every second syllable and therefore when reading the poem the stresses always fall on the last word at each line creating a sing song effect that suits Herrick’s lyrical style. However in the second part of the poem: instead of using his regular structure he uses a cross between long and short lines using enjambment. For example lines five to seven use a pattern of one six syllable line sandwiched between two, two syllable lines. This part of the poem is particularly effective as by putting â€Å"Stay, stay† twice on the one line the speaker sounds more urgently pleading as thought the daffodils would wither away before his eyes unless he begged them not to. This structure of the two part stanza is repeated in the second verse as once more it begins with Herrick’s usual lyrical form, before changing in the latter half to a more irregular one. This second half of the stanza uses enjambment to put an emphasis on certain words. â€Å"We die As your hours do, and dry Away† The way the words â€Å"We die† are placed on their own line reminds the reader that we share the same fate as the daffodils. The effect is mirrored with the word â€Å"away† and by putting this emphasis on these words it creates a more drumming rhythm. The manner in which the word â€Å"Away† is put onto a line  of its own suggests the hollow finality of death. â€Å"To Blossoms† uses a similar technique as â€Å"To Daffodils† as once more there is a contrast between long and short lines ranging from eight syllables to four. The rhyme scheme is also slightly more complex with an ABBCCB structure. These factors help to produce a slightly more interesting rhythm as it speeds up and slows down. For example in Stanza 1: Fair pledges of a fruitful tree Why do ye fall so fast? Your date is not so past† The longer line followed by the two shorter lines creates a fast first two lines, but when typical Herrick structure dictates that line two should be followed by a another line of eight syllables and it does not then it creates a slower rhythm which makes line three stand out. This is evident to a greater extent of the last lines of each stanza, which are also the shortest at only four syllables. The lines â€Å"And go at last† and â€Å"Into the grave† are the most noticeable of these. The words â€Å"Into the grave† end the poem on a chilling note. The fact that the poem is fairly fast paced up until that point means that the words are given a particular stress and reveal a particularly sudden and abrupt end – the very nature of life. Herrick reflects the relative simplicity of his narrative with an exceedingly uncomplicated structure, both with rhyme and rhythm. Even his more complicated verses still hold the musical quality that his simpler poems contain. This is one of Herricks’ merits as an over adorned structure would clash with the content and would ruin his poetry. On the other hand, when he ventures slightly outwith his simplistic sphere he creates very effective structures that help to emphasis the theme as can be seen in â€Å"To Daffodils† and â€Å"To Blossoms†. In conclusion it is evident that Herrick uses structure, symbolism and an  interesting blend of religious ceremonies in his exploration of the theme Carpe Diem. Through the simplicity in the rhythm and rhyme of his poems, Herrick has invoked the fleeting quality of life and the beauty of the world we live in. These two ideas are portrayed in the content of these poems through the use of symbolism and imagery. Yet the reason why Herrick, despite having somewhat dated opinions on the role of women, is still a poet of our time is because of his simplicity and â€Å"ceremonial universality†. To describe his poetry one would have to say â€Å"simple but beautiful†, for throughout his writings Herrick pays homage to the flowering of the earth and uses it to show how brief and temporary our presence is a parallel that all can understand. Herrick’s blend of different cultures and religions in his writing has also helped to immortalize him as it gave his poetry an acceptable but care free moral tone that remains relevant and enjoyable today. Bibliography A. Leigh Deneef This Poetick Leturgie Duke University Press 1974 ISBN 082230323X H.R Swardson Poetry and the Fountain of Light Allen and Unwin ISBN: 0048210161 1962 Robert H. Denning Robert Herrick’s Classical Ceremony John Hopkin’s University Press 1967 Roger B. Rollin Robert Herrick Twayne Publishers 1992 ISBN 0805770127 Sarah Gilead Ungathering Ye Rosebuds: Herrick’s misreading of Carpe Diem Critisism: A Quarterly for Literature and the Arts 1985 Other Resources Used Websites: http://www.luminarium.org http://people.whitman.edu/~dipasqtm/herrick.htm http://athena.english.vt.edu/~jmooney/renmats/cavaliers.htm http://www.bartleby.com/217/0107.html http://encarta.msn.com/text_761566707___2/Versification.html

Introducing an East World to a West World Essay

On June 26, 1982, Pearl Sydenstricker was born in Hillsboro West Virginia, to two American Presbyterian missionaries who primarily served in China (â€Å"Buck, Pearl S.†). At the age of two, Buck and her family moved back to China where she spent the next 6 years of her life adapting the Chinese culture while integrating aspects of her American heritage as well. Buck’s childhood in China stimulated the bicultural traits that she infused into her writing by exemplifying both American and Chinese culture and values. At 15, Buck was sent to a boarding school in Shanghai and continued her schooling at the Randolph Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg Virginia, where she graduated in 1914 and taught psychology. Later on she finished her schooling at Cornell University receiving a Master of Arts Degree. Buck also taught English at several universities throughout her career including the University of Nanking, Chung Yang University, and Southeastern University (â€Å"Works of Pearl Buck†). A notable historic event that impacted Buck’s life and her writing was the Boxer Rebellion (â€Å"Works of Pearl Buck†). The boxers were a group of Chinese people who opposed the spread of Western ideas and technology and convinced the empress to drive out all foreigners in China in order to sustain China’s ancient culture and history. Despite the empress’ support for the arising Western influence, the Boxers lashed out by imprisoning the empress and stimulating the attacks on foreigners. This ultimately caused Buck’s family to flee from China back to America in order to escape the rebellions plotted against foreigners (â€Å"A Life Lived in Interesting Times†). Buck also witnessed the foot-binding and murder of female babies in China due to the patriarchal nature that was indigenous to the Chinese culture. This influenced her to become an advocate for woman’s rights and her experience with the Boxer Rebellion profoundly affected her perspective for equality and the political barriers that seemed to separate the values of the West and Asia which was reflected in the various themes she covered. Throughout her life Buck was an outspoken feminist and equalist. She displayed her advocacy by supporting various organizations who strived for equality, promoting birth control, and even adopting nine children. (â€Å"Pearl S. Buck: A Cultural Biography†). She married John L. Buck, and they had one daughter who was mentally disabled. Her daughter’s disability motivated her to support children’s advocacy which inspired her to write â€Å"The Child Who Never Grew† in 1950. It also led her to establish the Pearl S. Buck foundation which strives to assist in the adoption and well-being of Amerasian children. However, her and her husband divorced in 1935 and she soon married Richard J. Walsh, her publisher who she stayed married to until the end of her life (â€Å"Buck, Pearl S.†). Pearl Buck was known for her works such as Dragon Seed which focuses on a female empress named Tzu Hsi who was faced with ruling China during a period of war. Some of her works also reflect her lifestyle that was influenced by two entirely different cultures. Buck’s memoir My Several Worlds tells about her long journey growing up in an environment of political struggle and internal warfare between her own people when her and her family was outcasted by the Chinese as foreigners. It tells about her career as an influential writer, an ambassador, and civil rights activist with her motives defined by the countless experiences of her life. Her most notable title which earned her a Pulitzer Prize and a Noble Prize in Literature was The Good Earth. The book tells of a poor farmer named Wang Lung and his wife who struggle with the changes that war and a corrupted government have brought upon the nation such as famine and poverty. This theme of personal obstacles can most likely relate to Buck’s audience when the book was published in 1931: the many Americans who struggled with the shifting politics and economy during the Great Depression (â€Å"The Good Earth, 1931,† The American Novel†). Buck’s work conveys the complexity of Chinese culture and life to America based off her experience growing up in a bicultural environment (â€Å"The Good Earth,† Barnes and Noble). Buck’s work can best be categorized by the movement of Realism because of the reality that she tries to depict in order to relate the hardships that both the Chinese and Americans share. Realism mainly focused on portraying average experiences and it transitioned after the movement of Romance. It is thought to be known as â€Å"the faithful representation of reality† (â€Å"Realism in American Literature, 1860-1890†). The realist nature of her books forged a connection through the similarities in lifestyle and adversities that the Americans shared with the people of China (â€Å"1860s-1900s Realism,† PBS). She aimed to depict the daily lives of the civilians of China through her characters’ lifestyles that gave an insight of life shrouded by Chinese culture and beliefs. Her ability to express the personal struggles of both the upper, middle, and lower class allowed her to convey the theme of cumulative struggles and experiences of a country as a whole. Pearl Buck’s main purpose for her writing was to link the alien and foreign culture of China to the people of America who were clueless to the cultural values that China imposed (The American Novel). She delivered with a style that precisely aimed to reveal the plain and blunt truth of life, no matter what social class a person belonged to. The works of Pearl Buck have left a lasting impact on both America and China. She created countless milestones in literature such as being one of the first women ever to receive a Noble Prize in Literature and a Pulitzer Prize, and acting as a mediator and uniting the two cultures of America and China through the various situations that she presents of life in China through her characters and various stories. I think that the reason she has left such a profound mark on literature is because of her ability to establish a connection with the audience. Being bi-cultural, Buck utilizes her first-hand experiences of life in China such as war, famine, and even traumatic murder experiences in order to fully convey the events that were occurring in China with the Great Depression of the United States. What makes her writing and themes so universal is that, it portrays the life experiences of people, with personal struggles and I think her themes have the capability to relate to any time period because everyone is able to relate to the hardships of others. Her ability to successfully connect with her audience on a personal level of experience with a completely foreign culture establishes her as one of the most impactful authors in literature in which modern-day writers aspire to achieve. â€Å"Buck’s Accomplishments have proven unique in military, political and literary history† (Taylor). Some even think that â€Å"We are very much in need of a twenty- first century Pearl Buck† (â€Å"A Life Lived in Interesting Times†). This further demonstrates the lasting influence that Buck’s literary work left during her time period, which some believe that â€Å"no one will ever be able to do again† (Taylor). Unfortunately, Pearl Buck died on March 6, 1973 of lung cancer at her home in Danby, Vermont (â€Å"Pearl S. Buck Biography†). Her work continues to live and is enjoyed by people all over the world today. Her deeds as an activist who strived for fairness among people and cultures are survived by the many people who are influenced by her contributions toward equality. She is recognized as a prominent author because of the major impact that she worked towards her whole life so that America would be able to share a culture and history with China. Despite her death, Buck has left her mark as a humanitarian and advocate who had the best interests of people in mind and a legendary writer who brought to America, a style of writing that will remain timeless in practically every age of literature. Works Cited Allen, Brooke. â€Å"A Life Lived in Interesting Times.† Hudson Review 3. 2010. eLibrary. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. â€Å"Buck, Pearl S.† Compton’s by Britannica, v 6.0. 2009. eLibrary. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. Campbell, Donna M. â€Å"Realism in American Literature.† Realism in American Literature. Department of English, Washington State University, 8 Sept. 2011. Web. 21 Dec. 2012. Frenz, Horst. â€Å"Pearl Buck- Biography.† Noble Prize. The Noble Foundation. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. Matterson, Stephen. â€Å"1860s-1900s Realism.† PBS. Educational Broadcasting Corporation, Mar. 2007. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. â€Å"Pearl S. Buck Biography.† Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. Taylor, Peter Shawn. â€Å"Pearl Buck to Pearl Harbor; How a much-loved novel won over Depression-era readers, erased Chinese stereotypes and helped bring war to the Pacific.† National Post. 15 Oct. 2012. eLibrary. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. â€Å"The Good Earth.† Barnes & Noble. Web. 12 Dec. 2012 â€Å"The Good Earth, 1931.† PBS. American Masters , The American Novel. Web. 21 Dec. 2012. White, Barbara. â€Å"Book Reviews: Pearl S. Buck: A Cultural Biography.† Contemporary Women’s Issues Database. 01 Jun. 1997. eLibrary. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. â€Å"Works of Pearl Buck: Pearl Buck.† MacMillan General Reference, 1963. eLibrary. Web. 12 Nov. 2012.

Miller delivers tension Essay

Act two opens with a scene of great contrast to the climax at the end of Act one where the curtain falls on â€Å"their ecstatic cries†. In Act two, we begin to learn the relationship between John and Elizabeth in more detail. Miller creates a sense of tension and conflict between John and Elizabeth by using detailed stage directions to communicate to the audience how the actors are feeling and their thought tracks through their movement on stage and their facial expressions. The tension during Act two is made even more dramatic by contrasting with the coldness and quietness at the start of Act two. At the beginning of Act two, Miller has purposely included very detailed stage directions about how Proctor’s house should appear on stage. Firstly, Proctor’s common room is â€Å"low, dark and rather long† which although is common for a Puritan living room, it suggest an unpleasant atmosphere within the household. â€Å"As the curtain rises, the room is empty† is also included within the opening set of stage directions. The room is empty and still which again creates a contrast to the hysteria of Betty and Abigail’s accusations of witchcraft and the heated argument between John and Elizabeth. One reason for Miller to create this contrast could be that he wanted to make the peaceful start to Act two make the ending of Act one and the argument between John and Elizabeth seem more dramatic and to make parts of Act two with John and Elizabeth seem more controversial. As John enters the living room, he â€Å"halts† as he hears Elizabeth singing. Miller may have added this â€Å"halts† because John is not knowing what to expect Elizabeth to be like with him because of the unsaid words that still lie between them about John’s affair with Abigail, or because he is enjoying listening to Elizabeth’s singing. John could also be worried that Elizabeth may question his whereabouts of that afternoon because he is late returning home. Elizabeth’s first words are, â€Å"What keeps you so late? † which suggests to the audience that Elizabeth has a lack of trust in John because of John’s affair. John gives a credible explanation, â€Å"I were planting far out to the forest edge. † and then tries to start a conversation. However, Elizabeth’s responses are laconic, â€Å"Aye. â€Å", â€Å"That’s well. † and â€Å"Aye, it would. † which suggests that Elizabeth does not want to talk to John. This could be because Elizabeth is still hurt because of the relations between John and Abigail or because Elizabeth’s mind is elsewhere because of all the accusations of witchcraft circulating through out Salem at this time.

International business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4

International business - Essay Example To Black Well (UK) to effectively penetrate the business, a proposed entry strategy will be provided in the study. For the last part of the study, the impact of cultural and ethical factors in shaping the involvement of Black Well will be tackled. Prior to conclusion, recommendation on how Black Well should standardise its marketing mix within Holland’s floricultural industry will be provided. The strong support of Holland government in the development of floricultural activities is an important success factor. As a way of encouraging floricultural breeders to develop new variety of plants, the government protects them under the intellectual property rights to enable them to generate more income out of exclusively selling a specific plant variety (Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, 2008). Aside from protecting the players within the industry, Holland government also supports the development of more effective greenhouses by sponsoring the trials of newly innovated greenhouse that enables the growers to make use of surplus heat during summer which will be consumed as heat during winter or convert the heat into electricity (Alter, 2006). Since there is significantly large number of players within the Holland’s floricultural industry, the business players within the industry are experiencing tight competition in both domestic and international markets. For this reason, each business player need to pay close attention on having a tight quality control over cut and potted flowers to enable them to maintain a close business relationship with its domestic and global distributors and regular customers. Aside from giving importance with the tight quality control on horticultural production, each business player within the industry also need to continuously innovate new technology that will enable them to effectively produce their specialized floral species with less operational cost. (Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and

Dragon in China A Symbol of Empowerment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Dragon in China A Symbol of Empowerment - Essay Example By going through the description of ‘Ladle with dragon handle’ on the website of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, it has been observed that the kind of ancient item provided by the museum at their site, demonstrates the creative and philosophical background of ancient Chinese culture. The ladle has been used in the third century for kitchen chores and whisky pouring. The historical object in the museum ladle can be located with a dragon’s head, which is particularly at its handle. A visitor to the museum can observe that the dragon has pointed ears and bulging eyes as the most prominent features. Additionally, its two long horns and attenuated snout are also those elements that serve in drawing the attention of the audience. As per the astrologists, the ladles were unearthed from the land of Kingdom of Wu. This denotes that ladles were of great importance for the Kingdom (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). Considering the historical existence of dragon in Chinese culture, it is evident that the ladle with dragon heads are mere symbol of strength and power for the kingdom. If the history of Yangzi river valley is assessed, dragons are always found serving the kingdom with good luck and blessings (Fiero 14). In Chinese culture, the ladle with dragon head have always been considered as the sign of serenity as it was used in the kitchen; therefore, during the recent period of modernization, the importance of dragons cannot be ignored. It should also be noted that the roots of such symbol go back to the beliefs presented in Confucianism’s content (Visser and Coleman 21-23). On the other hand, the pieces such as ladle with dragon head in China were sustaining the Chinese rise to empire; thus, the support acquired from the dragon and its symbolization had always supported the kingdom with strength and power. The richest culture of the region holds the dragons at every pace of the civil ization; therefore, the presence of dragons over ladles and other widely used utensils can be observed. This gives a clear indication of the worth of the pieces, Ladle, for Emperor  Qianlongs reign of the Qing Dynasty at its best. To be more precis, the era was (220–265), 3rd century. As most of the people are found believing that Chinese Dragon actually symbolizes the evil there is still a certain degree of misconception. Chinese also believed that dragons provide harmony to the patients. In simpler words, the dragons have the ability to help patients heal during sickness. The misconception appeared popular, because the dragon in west is considered as the symbol of Satan, because of the devilish attitudes (Visser and Coleman 71-83). It should be noted that ladle is of great value and kept in the museum because it highlights Chinese cultural heritage. It is observable that ladle 36.8 cm which is over greater cost. The worth of the ladle is noted to be beyond millions for it s make. The beliefs of old Chinese population and empire demonstrate their psychology that a daily using utensil with imprinted or carved dragon head may empower their existence over the world to rule with the domination they want to acquire. The modern Chinese society also believes in the old notions, that greatness, goodness and blessings are indulged with the symbol of dragon that may bless them as their ancestors were blessed. Such worth of ladle with dragon head in Chinese history is due to the fact that the believers deem dragons as the controlling power of the

Evaluation Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Evaluation - Term Paper Example The multi-faceted concept calls for equal worthiness, entitlement, and privileges, without regard to gender, age, race, religion, ethnicity, capabilities, social-economic background, or disability. The belief has led to a tremendous change in management practices mostly in training, recruitment, and retention of workers who reflect the changing face of the workforce. The discussion in this paper examines some of the concept of diversity management practices learned in the class. Something that I have learned about myself regarding diversity is that the race policy in America is much different from that of China. Personally, I am an international student from China. Over the last few months, I have come to realize that the policies in America are much different from those of China. For instances, in America there are all races of people. Fascinatingly, I have not witnessed cases of discrimination on the basis of race or color. Indeed, discrimination of any act especially on grounds of race difference can render one to be arrested and be prosecuted accordingly. I have learned that the underlying principles of workplace management diversity should be integrated with the aspects of human resource management. These aspects include selection, training, recruitment, development, and performance appraisal. All firms should be committed to embrace diversity. In point of fact, diversity in the workplace helps a firm to build good rapport with the community while enhancing the contribution of the workers. Besides, I have learned that diversity helps an organization improve the quality of products and services delivered. Successful firms focus on incorporating the principles of diversity in their culture system. There are several aspects of diversity management that I have gain familiarity with in the course of the study. I was acquitted of the knowledge that eliminating discrimination

Awaiting Health Laws Prognosis Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Awaiting Health Laws Prognosis - Article Example The majority of the population was not affected by these limits; because even though healthcare is getting more expensive everyday it is uncommon for a human to need over a million dollars in medical treatments over their lifetime. Despite this premise there are certain catastrophic illnesses such as cancer and hemophilia whose medical treatment costs are astronomical. For instance in 2010 Alex All clotting medicine treatment costs $800,000 to treat his hemophilia condition. The new legislation has eliminated the lifetime limit coverage heath plans were imposing on subscribers. This new governmental policy will help thousands of patients who have serious illnesses that require expensive treatments. It will provide them the opportunity to get the health treatment they need without the worry that the plan will cut them off after a certain cap threshold. The quality of life of these patients will greatly improve as result of the new policy. The implication of the policy does have economic consequences for the healthcare market as a whole. Some of these catastrophic illnesses have costs that are so high that they could have a severe impact in the medical cost inflation rate in the United States. Take for example Alex’s condition. He is only 22 years old. If he lives to be 80 years of age the total cost of his treatment over the next 58 years will be $54.4 million assuming the treatment costs stays constant. This assumption is not realistic due to the fact the US medical costs inflation rate is 3.6% which implies the medical the accumulative medical expenses are likely to exceed $100 million over the patients lifetime (Forecast-chart, 2011). The lifetime medical caps prior to the policy change were a cost control mechanism that was very effective. The market efficiency is disrupted by the implementation of the policy. The new rules of the game are going to have an inflationary effect in the long term as these catastrophic patients are

Rhetorical analysis memo Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Rhetorical analysis memo - Assignment Example Today, the organization has over 2,500 members where they have put up programs to promote pig farming on a large scale. Ohio shelters over 4,100 pig farmers and many of these are operated by families and this organization ensures that they become successful in producing healthy pork for the nation (â€Å"What do pigs eat†). The mission of Ohio Pork Farmers organization is to help all the Ohio pork producers understand a healthy and safe environment for the pigs. The author’s purpose is to show the pig farmers the healthy process through diet that pigs under this organization undergo to produce quality and healthy pig products for the nation. The intent of the organization is to create a video that shows the benefits of modern commercial pig farming to produce the best pork products for the society. This video is most likely created for the larger Ohio community, who participate in pig farming to encourage them to join and partake in the extensive and controlled modern p ig farming process (â€Å"What do pigs eat†)? The intended audience is Ohio farmers and potential farmers to show them the steps the Ohio Pork Farmers organization is making to produce healthy pig products. By referencing to â€Å"modern† pig farming process, the video targets all private farmers to encourage them to become members, so that they benefit under the Ohio Pig Farmers organization. The video talks of pig feeds being â€Å"scientifically formulated† (â€Å"What do pigs eat†) to enlighten private farmers to join such an organization for a bigger commercial establishment. The author values modern pig farming and references this by citing that â€Å"modern pigs are fed on a diet of corn and soy beans (â€Å"What do pigs eat†). Through this revelation, it becomes apparent that the author values the process of a modern commercial farming unit where pigs are kept in controlled housing to get proper diet. In the

Intercultural Communication in the Workplace Paper Essay

Intercultural Communication in the Workplace Paper - Essay Example It has become the common practice for the international companies to invite foreign partners to work on the projects. For example, if IKEA plans to expand its operations to the Korean market, the top management might consider an option of cooperation with Korean sales representatives who have both the knowledge and skills to make the integration more successful. Such cooperation is not always successful, unfortunately. The major problem is caused by the lack of cultural understanding. The American company plans to start the new marketing campaign to be used both in United States and in Japan, one of the key target markets. Being aware of cultural differences and willing to avoid wrong perception or translation of the slogan, it was decided to invite the group of marketing specialists from Japan. Five Japanese specialists came to United States and joined the company's marketing team. It was the well-thought-of decision to invite them; however, the project initiator has not paid enough attention to a very important issue - intercultural communication in the workplace setting. So, what was the problem The American member of the team presented his proposal to the Japanese member. While explaining his ideas, the American points to the paragraph he considered the most important. The Japanese draws in his breath and says that this idea needs special attention. The American decides that his idea is considered favorably. The misunderstanding here is that the American spec ialist concluded that the meeting is successful while the Japanese specialist wanted to point out that there are serious difficulties. Miscommunication is the major source of discomfort and conflict at work. More women, ethnic minorities and foreigners are entering the workforce and, as the result, the workplace is getting increasingly multicultural. Communication is more than what is said, written or expressed. Representatives of the different cultures have different communication styles: it means how, when and why the information is said. Misunderstanding occurs when the communications style of one individual differs from communication style of another individual (Ting-Toomy 2001). The problem becomes more complex when the communication styles differ based on the cultural heritage and both parties lack the knowledge of these differences. Americans v Japanese Americans are more direct in communication and if there is the problem, they expect to hear it in forthright manner; while the Japanese specialists prefer indirect communication style: less assertive. Sayings like "special attention is needed" might indicate that there are serious problems. In addition, Japanese are more reluctant to say "No". For example, the indefinite answer in perceived as undesired to cooperate by American business people, while Japanese are willing to say "Yes" as the sign that they are listening. When is comes to making an agreement, Japanese are not likely to say unconditional "Yes" or "No". This small cultural peculiarity might lead to

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 50

Assignment Example ‘The myth of Poitiers’ refers to the debate about the fact that the battle of Poitiers brought an end to the Muslim invasion of Europe. However it may be said that the expansion of the Islamic empire was not a result of conquests and rather a process of â€Å"continuous conversion† (Cardini, 4). Also the halt in the expansion could have been due to the tiredness and absence of energy in the invaders, which prevented them from progressing further. As observed by Cardini, â€Å"it has been claimed that, without Poitiers and the heroism of Charles Martel, the name of Allah would be called by the muezzin over the dreaming spires of Oxford, the Koran would be studied in that famous university and the history of the world would have been quite different† (Cardini, 4). However, later examination reveals that the importance of the battle is not so great. The connection between the East and West divisions were torn away in the eight century itself. In 700 Christendom was about to lose a large part of their lands to the Islams. The churches were destroyed and the west gradually lost connection with the rest of the world. Even in the year 700 the relationship between Rome and Constantinople was not hostile. It was mainly due to the Islamic threat that the problem began and the popes were of varying national identities. It was a result of cumulative developments, which took place from the eight century onwards and the bond was never restored. While the West was not united under one power, the East was strong to some extent. (Southern, 53) The areas of conflicts increased as the years

Wars of the Roses 1455-1471 Essay Example for Free

Wars of the Roses 1455-1471 Essay Within the context of the period 1337-1471, to what extent can Henry VI be held primarily responsible for the Wars of the Roses 1455-1471? When Henry VI came to the throne in 1431, people already had high expectations of him. At only 8 years old, he had already broken tradition by becoming the first king to rule over both England and France. However, when the minority council finally permitted Henry VI to rule of his own accord, he seemed to be a hopeless King, making severe mistakes that ultimately contributed to beginning of the Wars of the Roses in the period 1455 to 1471. However, there is some debate amongst historians as to whether Henry VI can be held primarily to blame for causing the Wars of the Roses, or whether other factors such as the over mighty subjects, the feuds between noble, and the actions of Margaret of Anjou were greater contributing factors to the outbreak of war. Henry VI’s personality has been criticised by many historians as being unsuited to the role of king. Contemporary interpretations of Henry are that he was terrible at ruling, as he was â€Å"utterly devoid of wit or spirit† (according to Pope Pius II). Subjects who were condemned for speaking ill of the king in the 1440s and 1450s referred to him as â€Å"a sheep†. Victorian views on Henry VI were that he lacked the qualities required for successful kingship, although at that time he was still praised for being â€Å"a pious, humane and Christian character†. The historian Antonia Fraser concludes that â€Å"these were not the attributes of a king and the truth is that Henry had no real wish to act like one†. This suggests that henry’s personality was overall, entirely ill-suited for the role of kingship. Henry’s chaplain John Blacman (writing during the reign of Henry Tudor), although writing somewhat positively about Henry VI, chooses to avoid mentioning Henry VI’S ability to rule and instead focuses on how religious Henry VI is, describing him as â€Å"chaste and pure from the beginning of his days†, and presenting him as a pious and puritanical king. The fact that Blacman puts emphasis on his pious character rather than his ability to rule, suggests that Henry VI was a poor ruler. Dockray comments â€Å"during the reign of Henry VII, at a time when the king was hoping to secure his predecessor’s canonisation†, so this source cannot be trusted. Robin Neillands concludes that â€Å"The accounts of the King’s goodness are largely based on his devotion to religion, at the expense of more pressing secular matters concerning the government of the realm†. The role of the minority council is also an important factor to consider when assessing whether Henry VI was primarily to blame. Henry V had, on his deathbed, made the fundamental arrangements for his son’s minority; Duke John of Bedford was to take charge in France as Regent (as Henry VI was too young to rule), and pursue the war against the Dauphin Charles-while hanging on to Normandy at all costs and maintaining the alliance with Philip the Good, and Humphrey Duke of Gloucester was to keep a watchful eye on England. In 1431, Henry VI was crowned king but the ministers ruled in his stead. This minority council ruled until Henry was in his mid-twenties, well over the normal ruling age, which suggests that Henry VI could not be trusted to rule the kingdom effectively. Gillingham, however, paints a very positive portrayal of Henry VI’s minority. He concludes that it was â€Å"evidence showing that in fifteenth century England there existed a stable political system, con taining in the council an institutional framework within which tensions could be contained and resolved.† K.B. McFarlane referred to Henry VI as â€Å"a baby who grew up to be an imbecile†, and the length of minority supports this view. Contemporary and Yorkist views on Henry VI were that he was a child-like, idiotic king, and that the council made all the decisions for him. The English Chronicle that was published in the 1460s stated that Henry â€Å"was simple and led by a covetous council† and â€Å"that puppet of a king†. Henry is often criticised for relying too heavily on his council, and continuing to support their decisions. Helen Castor states that â€Å"he was proving to be no more capable of leadership as an adult than he had been as an infant†, supporting the view that he was a childlike king incapable of ruing effectively. However, other historians have suggested that Henry VI did in fact take an active role in government, and can be seen as primarily to blame, rather than his minority council. The historian Wolffe claims that the documentation Henry VI signed is proof of his heavy involvement in government. His own involvement in the war in France led to defeat and humiliation, as he pursued his own French policy and made a secret deal with Charles VII to surrender Maine and Anjou, meaning that they lost all of France apart from Calais. By doing this, he had removed two key parts of the empire, making it inevitable for it to crumble. At this point, Henry VI did seem to act of his own accord, as the fact that he made the deal a secret suggest that he knew that many people would disapprove of his actions. All this suggests that Henry was fully in charge of the government and its decisions, and can consequently be blamed for the mistakes made during that time. Another example of Henry playing an active role in ruling is the increase in elevations to the peerage under Henry VI’s rule. During the first thirty six years of the Lancastrian dynasty, only nine elevations were made to the peerage. However, twenty five years later (during Henry’s reign), there were twenty five elevations to the peerage. This massive increase in elevations to the peerage made during Henry’s reign seems to indicate that Henry was in fact playing an active role in ruling. Another reason why Henry VI could be seen as primarily responsible is because his mental collapse during the period 1453-54 left the government unattended, allowing violence to flare up with no authority to deal with it. According to the historian Robin Neillands, it â€Å"flung the whole responsibility for the management of the realm entirely on the Royal Council†, and as a result â€Å"the fragile rule of law in England fell apart†. The quarrel between the Nevilles and the Percies soon escalated into violence in August 1453, despite measures that the Royal Council put in place in a failed attempt to end their quarrelling. However, it is debatable as to whether or not that Henry’s illness made any fundamental change to these events, as he’d already proved himself as incapable of solving these disputes even before his mental collapse. It also led to more conflict between Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York and Somerset. Another key factor to consider is the role of Margaret of Anjou. Henry VI married Margaret, the niece of Charles VII in 1455, when she was fifteen years of age and had no dowry. Some historians have suggested that Margaret was to blame for convincing the king to surrender Maine and Anjou in order to please her, and referred to her as â€Å"the queen who had brought nothing and taken much away†-although as Gillingham points out â€Å"it is unlikely that a fifteen year old girl could wield so much influence within a few months of her arrival at a strange court where most people spoke a language she was yet to learn†. Margaret of Anjou played a pivotal role in the Wars of the Roses, most notably after February 1456, when York’s second protectorate ended, as Margaret managed to establish a power base in the northwest, and also persuade the king to come to Chester, turning the political tide against York. She had successfully stepped into the vacuum left by Henry VI, and continued to play a dominant role in court, creating the Attainment Bill in 1459 to show the extent of her control. Overall, the balance of evidence seems to suggest that Henry was a weak ruler and ill-suited to the role of medieval kingship. He clearly lacked the qualities needed to rule effectively, and there was no clear leadership in any key sphere of government due to Henry’s long absences from power- the minority council ruled in his stead until he was in his mid-twenties, and reappeared when he suffered his mental collapse in the 1450s, and there were others ruling for him. He also failed to stop the feud between York and Somerset before it escalated into violence. He also neglected to stop the quarrels between other nobles. The balance of evidence also seems to point towards the interpretation of Henry VI being far too easily led and manipulated. Helen Castor even goes on to say that he â€Å"did little more than smile and agree to every suggestion his advisers made†. While Jack Cade’s rebellion showed the discontent of the people at that time, the fact that the rebellion was aimed solely against Henry VI’s advisors rather than Henry himself is a clear indicator of how easily manipulated he was, as his own people believed that his advisors were at fault. According to Antonia Fraser, the main demand from the rebels was the punishment of â€Å"the false progeny and affinity of the Duke of Suffolk† and a later chronicler said he â€Å"was simple and led by a covetous counsel†. However, none of this means that Henry VI should be held any less accountable, as he chose the government that was now in place. However, there are other factors that suggest that he wasn’t entirely to blame for the Wars of the Roses. Many historians have identified the family tree of Edward III as a significant factor in causing the wars of the roses for several reasons. One main reason why it could be seen as a significant factor is because it started the debate as to who had the stronger claim to the throne, the house of Lancaster, or the house of York. When Edward II died in 1377, Richard II succeeded him (as Edward the black prince had predeceased his father). However, as she was too young to rule, John of Gaunt ruled in his stead until Richard II turned 20. Richard II banished Gaunt’s heir, Henry Bolingbroke, and Thomas Mobray when they had a quarrel, but made the fatal mistake of seizing all of the wealth of the house of Lancaster. This caused Henry Bolingbroke to return to reclaim his wealth, ultimately ending in Bolingbroke taking the throne of England as Henry IV. By doing so, he ignored the claims of the Mortimer family, which followed back through a woman named Philippa, the daughter of Lionel of Clarence (the second son of Edward iii), and these claims eventually passed down to Richard, duke of York. The Yorkist line seemed to have the stronger claim to the throne than the Lancastrian line, as Richard, earl of Cambridge’s marriage with Anne Mortimer connected his line with the Mortimer line, arguably putting him ahead of the Lancastrians in the line of succession. The debate was that Anne Mortimer was a woman, making Richard Plantagenet’s claim through a female line, so the Lancastrian claim was considered stronger, and also the Yorkist claim was not pursued after 1415, as his father, Richard, earl of Cambridge had been beheaded for treason. This chain of events helped to start off the Wars of the Roses, as it was Richard Plantagenet who founded the house of York. Yet while Edward III’S family tree provided the possibility for war, there are arguably more significant factors. Edward III’s complicated family tree was a factor that drove Richard of Cambridge to attempting to place his brother-in-law, Edmund Mortimer, on the throne, as he believed that Edmund Mortimer had the stronger claim. As it was his son, Richard Plantagenet, who founded the house of York, it suggests that the family tree helped to cause the feud between the house of Lancaster, and the house of York, effectively starting the Wars of the Roses. Henry IV’s usurpation of Richard II in 1399 has been regarded by several historians as the root cause of the Wars of the Roses. In particular, the historian A.L .Rouse stated that â€Å"It all began with a revolution. The revolution of 1399.†When Henry Bolingbroke overthrew Richard II and took the throne, he â€Å"struck at the very foundations of kingship†. During that period, it was believed that the king was always chosen by God. Therefore, it was considered dreadful to overthrow a king, and Shakespeare later described the Wars of the Roses as a form of divine retribution, as punishment for the sins that their predecessors committed. This idea was used as propaganda, and the usurpation was viewed as so shocking that it created the precedent for overthrowing a sacredly anointed king. It also put forward the idea that the divinity of kingship could be passed down to someone else of a stronger bloodline, and Henry IV used this as an excuse by claiming that his ancestor was the eldest son of Henry III. However, there were other contenders to the throne who had a stronger claim than Henry Bolingbroke, and as there was much dispute in later years about who had a stronger claim to the throne, it could be argued that the cause of all these disputes originated. The usurpation of Richard II was also significant because it meant that any person of royal blood who had raised an army, and who had argued with the king could become a contender for the throne, as they could simply overthrow the king and take the crown for themselves. This meant that the throne was never going to be safe from anyone who wished to take it. This made it almost inevitable for war to break out, as any of the following rulers’ claims to the throne could be questioned, and it created political uncertainty and instability due to the fact that the Lancastrian dynasty was based on usurpation. Despite Henry Bolingbroke’s excuse that Richard II had been unfit to rule, it still caused a dispute about whether the usurpation of the throne could really be excused. However, this was not a problem during the reigns of Henry IV and Henry V, and the debate was only brought about when Henry VI’s failings became apparent- had there been a strong, capable ruler on the throne, this debate would not have been reopened. â€Å"Bastard Feudalism† also played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses. The phrase was coined by the historian Charles Plummer. K.B. McFarlane argues that the whole system of bastard feudalism did in fact have the potential to provide stability, suggesting that its contribution to the disorder and instability of that period was merely a reflection of Henry VI’s ineffective rule. This serves to reinforce the argument that it was Henry VI’s inability to rule that created the problems which arose and ultimately culminated in the outbreak of war. Certainly, had a strong king, capable of maintaining control, been placed on the throne, then the system of â€Å"bastard feudalism† would not have proved an issue. It could also be argued that the â€Å"over-mighty subjects such as York and Warwick were to blame for causing the Wars of the Roses. Some historians have argued that Henry VI’s mistrust of York was not justified, as he had legitimate grievances. He had been the king’s lieutenant in France but was replaced by Somerset who was given a larger army. Somerset was even paid  £2 5,000 for troops while York was given nothing and instead told to wait. Somerset’s younger brother was also made lieutenant of France and York was humiliated as lieutenant of Ireland. The government also owed York  £38,666 ( £12,666 of this York agreed to forgo), but they still failed to pay his wages, and even owed him a further  £10,000 due to his hereditary pension. Because of the government’s refusal to pay York the money he was owed, his debt increased to the extent that he was forced to consider selling some of his manors, as well as endanger relationships with his friends by borrowing heavily from them. York also received  £21,000 worth of â€Å"bad tallies†-which were the crown’s method of discharging its debts by handing out tallies on some regular source of income, and receiving the tallies did not guarantee proper payment. Many historians agree that York deserved fairer treatment than this- he had been active in the king’s service abroad and was the crown’s largest single creditor after loaning them  £26,000. The historian Keith Dockray claims that he â€Å"could reasonably expect a prominent role in Henry VI’s council and even, perhaps, formal recognition as the king’s heir†. Many pro-Yorkist chroniclers were of the belief that he was a good person who was being treated very poorly by the â€Å"corrupt clique surrounding the king†(Dockray). The English Chronicle states that â€Å"common people hated Somerset but loved York because he loved the commons and [reserved the common profit of this land†. According to K.B. Mcfarlane, some of the blame can still be attributed to the king, because â€Å"only an under-mighty ruler had anything to fear from over-mighty subjects†. This links back to the key problem underlying all these factors-Henry VI was a poor ruler, and so the stability of the government depended on his ability to assert authority and make good decisions. The development of bastard feudalism, caused by the growth of affinities, also helped to cause instability between the king and his magnates, as it enabled the magnates to subvert the wishes of the crown and take the law into their own hands. According to Neillands, the magnates â€Å"began to maintain bodies of soldiers, even in peacetime, and this â€Å"maintenance† was not illegal â€Å"unless the lord attempted to support his retainer in outlawry or by influencing the court of law†. As a result, violence became widespread due to Henry VI’s inability to maintain control of the system. Gillingham, however, paints a very positive portrayal of Henry VI’s minority. He concludes that it was â€Å"evidence showing that in fifteenth century England there existed a stable political system, containing in the council an institutional framework within which tensions could be contained and resolved.† However, Richard Plantagenet’s contemporaries tended to be more critical when assessing whether he deserved this treatment. The historian J.R. Lander referred to him as â€Å"an ambitious, opportunist and self-interested magnate who failed to win much committed support from his peers†. Many of York’s contemporary critics believed that he was far more motivated by self-interest rather than concern for public good, and some even called him a traitor. This is evident in a Chancery memorandum in 1456 that claimed that all disturbances since Cade’s rebellion had been â€Å"at the will of the Duke of York, descended from the Mortimers’. The fact that he is not only blamed for the disturbances after Cade’s rebellion, but there is also an accusatory remark about his lineage, clearly suggests that he had not won the support of his peers. The Coventry Parliament in 1459 even wrote a catalogue of his alleged treacheries, and the tract Somnium Vigilantes criticised his behaviour as being â€Å"subversive to the commonwealth†. The events in 1452 also support this view; York started a campaign to remove Somerset from power which failed, so he had to resort to an armed force. He also confronted the king at Blackheath with armed retainers, with a view to finally gaining his deserved position beside the king. According to the historian J.R. Lander, one contemporary writer claims that he â€Å"surrendered on the promise that Somerset would be arrested†. However, this failed, as little support from nobles and the common people led to his humiliation. These events suggest that York was indeed ambitious and self-interested with little support. When York returned from Ireland in 1450, many of the king’s servants became suspicious. Despite returning because he was worried about the return of Somerset from France, the king’s servants assumed he was there to overthrow the king due to rumours spread about during that time. This suggests that he certainly did not have the approval of the public, as they were prepared to believe in rumours rather than trusting in his character. Overall, the balance of evidence seems to suggest that Henry VI was primarily responsible for the Wars of the Roses. Henry VI’s incompetence allowed rebellion to take place, and his inability to rule effectively meant that the government was filled with over-mighty subjects all vying for power. He also worsened the disputes between the nobles and increased tensions between them, creating the perfect conditions for war to take place. Although he cannot be blamed substantially for the defeat in France, he did play a role in events by surrendering Maine and Anjou. The usurpation in 1399 also heightened all of these factors, as it encouraged the belief that God was against his rule. None of the key factors responsible for the Wars of the Roses would have been as influential on events if Henry VI had been the dominant, assertive ruler everyone needed him to be. Bibliography: The Wars of the Roses by John Gillingham The Wars of the Roses by Robin Neillands The Wars of the Roses by Antonia Fraser The Wars of the Roses by J.R.Lander Blood and Roses by Helen Castor Bosworth Field and the Wars of the Roses by A.L .Rowse Henry VI and the Politics of Kingship by John Watts

Chinese Business Culture Essay Example for Free

Chinese Business Culture Essay In accordance with our theories, it is necessary for Western exporters to learn about the Chinese business culture in order to be successful in marketing in China. There is an old Chinese proverb, â€Å"Enter village, follow customs†. The Chinese civilization has a long history and evidence shows that the way to get things done in China is to do it in the Chinese way. Chinese business culture is the key to the Chinese way of doing business and their style of negotiating (Fang 1998, p. 71). In this chapter, we aim to provide a framework to help those Western exporters get a better understanding of Chinese people’s business culture. 1. 0 Influence of Confucianism The Chinese culture encompasses diverse and competing philosophies, of which, Confucianism has been identified as the foundation of China’s great cultural tradition. Confucian values emphasis on interpersonal relationship and has provided Chinese business people with a relationship-based business approach (Bond Wang 1983). An ordinary Chinese person would also agree that business and marketing in China is about relationships to a great extent. The principle of harmony and trust in Confucianism reflects an aspiration toward a conflict-free and group-based system of social relations, and also means that communication in a business negotiation should be harmonious. Further, the principle of hierarchy emphasizes that each individual should be conscious of her or his position in the society, which is also evident in a business negotiation in China, especially in a decision-making process. (Bond Wang 1983) 2. 0 Guan Xi The Chinese term guan xi, rooted from Confucianism and translated into relationships or connections, is one of the most important traits of Chinese business culture, referring to the concept of drawing on connections or networks in order to secure favours in personal or business relations (Davies et al. 1995). It is a set of concentric circles of contacts, typically stretching from close family, to distant, to more distant relatives, to classmates, to friends, to friends’ friends, and so forth. In the Chinese business world, networking of guan xi is a peculiar advantage which can contribute a variety of commercial privileges and a great deal of business potentials for the marketer. This approach contrasts sharply with the deal-focused, task-oriented business cultures of North America and northern Europe (Gesteland Seyk 2002). Therefore, to establish a great guan xi with the Chinese counterpart, partners, customers, even the Chinese authorities and government should be an extremely important marketing strategy of Western exporter that wants to be successful on the Chinese market. 3. 0 Establishing a relationship Being relationship-focused, Chinese prefer to deal with family, friends, and persons who they know well and who they can trust. They are uncomfortable talking business with strangers, especially strangers who also are foreigners (Gesteland Seyk 2002). For this reason, the first step of business negotiation in China takes a lot of time outside of the office for socializing. The Chinese invite foreign guests for dinners, sightseeing, and other activities in order to facilitate the process of getting to know each other. The Chinese will want to know about this foreign company, its reputation and its management, and will be especially interested in the background, rank and personality of the individual foreign executives making the visit. A Western executive may become impatient with this step, both out of pressure to reach a deal quickly and out of the desire to separate business from the private aspect. However, what the Chinese are really doing at this stage is to test the sincerity, intelligence and deference of their prospective business partner before considering doing business with him or her. (Fang 1998) 4. 0 Attitudes to contracts Confucianism’s principles of interpersonal relationship and trust can even make many Chinese business people put relationships before contract (Alston He 1996). Many Chinese believe that risk in the business can be minimized by developing a quality relationship of guan xi with their business partners. They are more likely to see a contract as a basis of relationship rather than a legal document. Most of the Chinese executives involved in international business realize that Western executives require formal documents in which delivery dates, responsibilities and procedures are explicitly stated and will respect the clauses which they have agreed to. While the Chinese tend to think that, once a relationship has been established, future problems can be solved without legal recourse. And the Chinese are inclined to prefer agreements that are less detailed than the Westerner. Because, for them, changes are anticipated and those detailed contracts can become relatively useless. (Alston He 1996) Therefore, for a Western exporter, it would be wise to follow the Chinese model and only enter into business relationships with partners one knows and trusts. 5. 0 Face Another important Chinese cultural trait is the Chinese concept of face. In China, face is one’s good reputation in others’ eyes, one’s self-respect, dignity and prestige. If a Chinese is insulted, embarrassed, shamed or criticized in public, he or she will lose face. People can also give their counterpart face by making compliments and doing small favours. Giving face is an effective way to build a solid relationship (Gesteland Seyk 2002). Face issue is also evident in a Chinese business negotiation context. In the business world, negotiations should be conducted to assure that the Chinese counterparts keep face. Because of face consciousness, a Chinese negotiator would refuse to make any concession. Some of the many delays that Western business negotiators encounter are caused by the Chinese counterpart’s unwillingness to risk losing face. A lot of evidence has shown that a great deal will be gained by helping the Chinese to win face and a great deal will be lost by any slight action which may cause the Chinese losing face. As a result, cognition of the Chinese concept of face plays a critical role in successfully doing business with the Chinese. (Fang 1998) 6. 0 Holistic thinking In general, the Chinese have a deductive cognition, which means reasoning based on theory and logic (Brake et al. 1995). The Chinese are highly deductive in their assessment of opportunities and problems. They usually want to be introduced to a new product, service or other business opportunity by way of a theory. This theory should provide them with a straightforward overview of the opportunity. The meaning and application of the principles of this theory should then be demonstrated with data and facts, although quantitative justification and analysis play a less important role in China than in many inductive Western business environments. Chinese people are likely to be resistant to business proposals which are not presented first in a logical form. (Brake et al. 1995) 7. 0 Speech acts As China has a high-context culture, hinting is an exceedingly common way of communication for the Chinese. Sometimes, Chinese speakers feel that they have been very frank with a clear hint, while the Western listeners still can’t catch the point at all. Elements of â€Å"atmosphere† surrounding the conversation, such as previous experience, hierarchy and many other cultural factors modify the literal meaning of a Chinese speaker’s sentences. For example, â€Å"I agree† might mean â€Å"I agree with 15 percent of what you say†. And â€Å"We might be able to† could mean â€Å"Not a chance†. What is said is often not what the listener is expected to understand. This is one of the biggest culture shocks in many business negotiations between the Westerner and the Chinese (Johnston 1991, p. 209).

Townsends Theories of Recruitment and Selection

Townsends Theories of Recruitment and Selection This essay will argue Townsends research into the paradox of recruitment and selection, training and the high level of turnover that appears in the growing industry of call. His research is based on PowerGrid, which is an Australian Government owned Power Company. There has been an enormous increase in the number of call centres, due to this a large number of interesting issues have arisen such as high level of turnover in call centres, despite companies spending vast sums of money on training and recruiting. The research of Townsend is valuable and meaningful for there has been little academic research conducted in the area of recruitment, training and turnover in call centres. This essay will be based on the critical review of Townsends use of research methods, findings, practical implications and the concepts he used. Townsend adopts a three-step research strategy. Specifically, a seven-month non-participant job observation, ten interviews of managers and leaders in the organization and an analysis of the human resource documents compose the research method. Townsend considers the importance of PowerGrid call centre mainly for two reasons: At first, during the 1990s Australian government deregulation to power supplies session, PowerGrid had grew out of joint efforts by other power suppliers; Next, the PowerGrid call centre was based on Erlang C model which uses mathematical method to calculate and predict call volumes and keep balance of contact within the call centre (Angus, 2001).ÂÂ  Townsends findings suggest that the company was able to reduce its cost of training and recruitment through internal transfers. Moreover, Townsend points out that training should focus more on emotional labour as it is important for call centre agents to show to their customers rather than solely focus on techn ical trainings and the role of the human resource department is to hire the best candidates and filter out the ones who may be incompetent. Looking at the literature, the paradox between high cost of recruitment and training and high ratio of employees turnover in the sector of call centres, could be described as a sacrificial HR strategy (Wallace, Eagleson Waldersee, 2000), this formed the basis of Townsends research. By agreeing with (korczynski, 2002) Townsend accepts the idea that organizations face dual imperatives for instance call centres want to minimise their costs but on the other hand have to provide excellent service to its customers. But companies mainly use call centres to minimize their cost rather than offer customer service, although call centre managers describes customers service as their main goal (Robinson Morley, 2006). Townsend agrees with (Mulholland, 2002) that whatever the type of call centre it may be, Customer service representatives (CSRs) have to show a high degree of emotional labor to the customers. CSRs are also required to have the ability of micro-self manage (Wray-Bliss, 2001).But on the other hand he disagrees with (Hochschild, 1983) that those CSRs who displayed artificial emotional labour suffered from negative consequences. Townsends argument is supported by findings of (Wharton, 1993) who through his research suggested that emotional labour does not cause any negative consequences. Townsend discusses the importance of the role of recruitment towards the future and wellbeing of an organisation and compares it to the role of a gate keeper (2007: 57). It should be noted that by hiring competent applicants the firms productivity and performance can be improved significantly (Russo, Rietveld, Nijkamp Gorter, 1995). It is also better to employ those people who are willing to learn. (2007: 478). Besides, Townsend agrees with (Breaugh Starke, 2000) who suggested that new recruits job satisfaction and initial performance should be more important to organisations. That is, when the applicants are being hired it is important for the employers to see, whether the applicants attitude is suitable to organisations and this should be considered more important than ones technical skills. As mentioned before, PowerGrid is a government-owned Australian electricity supplier. Townsend acknowledges that there is difference between governments owned companies and privately owned companies. As he identifies the unique characteristics, there is a debate on whether the findings of this case could be generalized to private companies. Moreover, its rational to doubt whether Townsend has paid attention to the fact that his research is conducted in Government run working environment. Townsend argues that PowerGrid being a Government owned company has to have its call centers in the country, which increases costs, while on the other hand they need to be efficient in terms of operations. But being a Government owned company it has the protection of the Government in terms of costs. Private companies on the other hand do not have this advantage and may need to outsource their call centres in order to cut down their costs, to low costs countries such as India and Philippines (Snow, 2 005). Townsend identifies that PowerGrid makes internal transfers which it called positive turnover; this is when CSRs moved within the organisation. Due to this the organisation is able to reduce its training and recruitment cost which otherwise would have been spent on hiring and training new candidates. As (Robinson Morley, 2006) confirmed high staff turnover rate in call centres can greatly affect the cost impact on business and that could be direct costs; that are training, recruiting etc. or could be indirect for instance bad customer service. But Townsend fails to give any evidence for his findings as to how we can see if the organization was able to reduce its costs by internal transfers. According to Townsend, PowerGrid used a three stage training programs for the new recruits (2007: 485). He mentions that the first stage is the basic training program away from the computer and it is done in an environment that is decorated with nappies, baby clothes and pacifiers. He mentions that the management calls it the nursery. However, he questions the logic of using this word and shows some reservations about whether using this word is appropriate for this level but then agrees to the concept of the management who call it as part of the fun in the organization. But training programs are at the entry level of the company and may give wrong perceptions of the company, the perceptions may become permanent and in future it would be difficult to change these perceptions (Marchington, 2005). Townsend points out at some of the problems faced by Powergrid with regards to training of new CSRs. Previously the training time for news CSRs was eight weeks (2007: 484). A new system was to be introduced that would half that time to nearly four weeks. Even though the management spend AU$ 30 million on the new system, it turned out to be a failure as it not only doubled the training time as new recruits would have to learn both the systems but also increased employee dissatisfaction. He points out the ineffective communication and low employee involvement during the development and implementation of this new system when he mentions about the training team leader who points out that the management did not disclose to him information about the new system due to which the new system became an add on (2007: 484) to the old system rather than a completely new system. According to Lewis, (1999) there is a direct link between communication process within the organisation and organisationa l change implementation. Townsend identifies that the training for the employees was mostly focused on technical and product knowledge rather than on emotional labour. He believes that money would be well spent if it was spent on trying to improve the emotional labour rather than spend it on other skills. But he fails to provide any ideas on how this can be improved. Townsend points out at the dissatisfaction of the CSRs with the management (2007: 485). The employees are unhappy with the schedule for their trainings because they had to perform their training modules outside their working hours. The employees felt they were already overburdened as they only got thirty minutes of release time which was spent mainly to check their emails. The CSRs would be dissatisfied because a CSRs job is more stressful and less satisfying as compared to other jobs (Holdsworth Cartwright, 2003). Dissatisfaction of managers can be identified in PowerGrid. As a call centre manager called himself between a rock and a hard place (2007: 487) as they had to do continuous recruitment as some of their employees would move through to the larger organization due to internal transfers and many would leave the organization altogether as they would be heavily scrutinized through the software analysis system or will not get enough pay or benefits. So in order to retain the employees the organization must offer its employees good pay and benefits and should adopt a transparent performance management system (Raman, Budhwar Balasubramanian, 2007). There can be weaknesses identified in Townsends research methods. He used three steps to conduct his research. Firstly, he used non participant job observations to carry out his research. Non participant job observations include two types direct or indirect observations (Rowley, 2004). It has not been mentioned if he used direct or indirect observations, as in direct observations questions can be asked and may lead to change in behavior of the people observed, on the other hand indirect observations cannot be used for gaining information on perceptions, attitudes etc. (Rowley, 2004). He made observations only once or twice a week which seem not enough. Effective observation is an art and needs to be honed and perfected overtime (Rowley, 2004). There is nothing mentioned in the article that suggests that whether the author has experience or has gone through training to conduct and observation at this level. Secondly, he then conducted eighteen interviews of key personnel in the company who included contact centre manager, call centre manager, training team leader, roster and planning officer and human resource representatives, out of which he selects only ten interviews that he believed were relevant to topic of his research. The author should provide more detailed criteria for choosing only ten interviews out of the original eighteen. Thirdly, he obtained data from the organisation related to the Human resource department and analysed it to reach the conclusion. He has not mentioned what type of data he used to come to conclusions neither he has mentioned any process or methods that he used to analyse and interpret the data. There are two methods for data analysis; Computer based analysis and manual analysis (Borch Arthur, 1995). So in this case we dont know if he has used manual or computer based analysis or a combination of both. As some researchers use one type of methodology while some use a combination of both (Borch Arthur, 1995). Due to the debatable nature of Townsends research methods it is very difficult to find his results conclusive. However, he agrees with (Mulhollands, 2002) which suggest that CSRs need to show a high degree of emotional labor to the customers. Lack of proper planning and communication can be seen between the management of PowerGrid as they wasted AU$30 million in trying to implement a new software without consulting the training team leader and it turned out to be an add on (2007: 486). He identified that the recruitment and selection department should act like a gate keeper (2007: 478) in order to only let in the right candidates. He emphasized that training should focus more on emotional labour, as it is the most important aspect while communicating with the customers, rather than focusing on technical skills. Townsend fails to identify by how much the company was able to reduce the cost of turnover when they had to keep recruiting throughout the year due to employees moving into th e larger organization or leaving the organization altogether. This research provides useful information for practitioners in the call centres. However, researchers who further study, need to research in depth into industry of call centre and should specially address the limitations found in Townsends study. Townsend wanted to consider the paradox of extensive recruitment and training conducted in call centres that are faced with high levels of turnover. He came to the conclusion that PowerGrid was able to reduce its cost of recruitment and training, by having internal transfers within the larger organisation. Furthermore, Townsend has been able to identify certain problems within PowerGrid. He has failed to highlight is there any difference between this call centre and other private call centres. He has advocated that there should be a great emphasis on training of emotional labour rather than technical training but he has been unable to provide any suggestion how it can be done. Finally, Non-participant job observations, interviews are types of qualitative research methods which can be called problematic because of problems with their validity and reliability (Kirk Miller, 1986) REFERENCES: Angus, I. (2001). An introduction to Erlang B and Erlang C. Telemanagement, (187): 6-8. Breaugh, J. and Starke, M. (2000). Research on employee recruitment: so many studies, so many remaining questions.Journal of Management, 26(3): 405-34. Borch, O.J. and Arthur, M.B. (1995). Strategic networks among small firms: implications for strategy research methodology. 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