Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Dialectics in Oryx and Crake Essay Example for Free
Dialectics in Oryx and Crake Essay Canadian author Margaret Atwoodââ¬â¢s novel Oryx and Crake, is about an anti-utopian society that chronicles the collapse of civilization and corrupt medical practice. The townââ¬â¢s morals are highly questionable, in that the majority of the citizens approve of gene splicing, transgenic animals, like mixing a dogââ¬â¢s genetic code with a wolf, and transplanting animal organs in human beings. The book poses a question of what is truly ethical in medical practice? This story has an immediate correlation to the island of Dr. à Moreau, by H. G. Wells, in which a mad scientist creates a dysfunctional society of genetically spliced transgenic animals as well. Like The Island of Dr. Moreau, Margaret Atwood relies on dialectical elements. Dialectic is a classical philosophy originated by the Greeks that depended on the furthering of society through thesis and antithesis. In modern day it has developed between most scholastics as a fine art of persuasion. It is ever present in Oryx and Crake through the dialectics produced through Crakeââ¬â¢s insanity. His main dialectical argument is that society has become morally bankrupt and is due for a change and Crake claims intellectual right over all of man kind. His views are presented as deliriously radical, but there is irony in the fact that the University that Crake attends is named Aspergerââ¬â¢s U. A term used to describe people who are usually extremely intelligent and often very eccentric, it be could argued that Atwood hints to imply Crake may be the correct one after all, and that the rest of society is wrong. This virtually tyrannical takeover of both the world and the lives of Oryx and Snowman are done entirely through aggressive persuasion. In the formation of Crake, Atwood creates an insanely ranting lunatic, with whom in the end the reader has no choice but to sympathize. The dialectic argument that is posed here is that the dye is cast. Atwood, acknowledges that our societyââ¬â¢s morals tread a fine line from damnation, and she writes a novel that puts us one step over that line. The reader has no choice but to sympathize with Crakesââ¬â¢ actions because he is a product of an unbearable world, not too distant from our own. The novel itself, poses a persuasive argument to the reader, in that all of the occurrences in the plot are rationally plausible. There are scenes in the novel where the two men, Crake and Snowman, are attending college together and enjoying their favorite pastimes. These hobbies include, watching nudie news, live executions, and child pornography. In the beginning moments of the lives of the two main characters, the reader views a demoralized world, in which it appears even the plotââ¬â¢s hero is desensitized to the plight of his society. The ironic and reasonable argument posed is that all of these things they are doing, we can do today in our society. At the same time, child pornography, nude news, and live executions online are all either frowned upon and remotely new to our society. Atwood presents the enjoyment of these practices like they are common occurrences. The same goes for gene splicing. It is widely debated as an immoral and illegal act, but it is reasonable enough to think that with the passing of time eventually a law can be passed to legalize both gene splicing and child pornography. This would inadvertently make the use and distribution of these practice more heavily abundant in society and change the moral makeup of the people as a whole. A third persuasive argument the novel poses, and this is more from a perspective of female empowerment, is the idea of polyandry. It is historically a manââ¬â¢s fantasy and an empowering element for the man, while degrading to the woman, for a man to have two wives. Atwood poses the exact opposing scenario in this novel. On one end the idea of polyandry is implied through the relationships both Snowman and Crake have with Oryx. It is directly inferred to in that the Crakers only breed when they are polyandrous. This like most of the novel is a play on societal norms. Underlying in the dialectic argument of the novel are societal implications. For example, by Atwood calling Crakesââ¬â¢ creations the Crakers, she creates an implied connection on words to the Quakers, who are known for starting their own Christian new world. Crake also embodies the values of real time corporations, in that he creates a medical demand for his products through unleashing a virus. His behavior can only be expected by his inherent capabilities and by him being the product of a moral-less society. Atwoodââ¬â¢s novel is also fueled by human nature, the horrific experiences the characters go through and their apathetic reactions actually seem believable because they are so human. An example of this is shown in the scene where Crake has just destroyed society as we know it and snowman watches the devastation on the internet, The whole thing seemed like a movieâ⬠¦The worst of it was that those people out there ââ¬â the fear, the suffering, the wholesale death ââ¬â did not really touch him (Atwood, 2004). It is ironic that Atwood makes a reference to the end of society being like a movie; this exposes snowmanââ¬â¢s adolescent and distant nature, as well as makes him appear more human. This also connects back to the live executions witnessed online earlier in the novel. These are examples of Atwood using real time human tendencies to show her charactersââ¬â¢ disenfranchisement from society. The actions following this scene consist of snowman leading the Crakers out into the new world in which they find glow-in-the-dark bunnies running rampant. This is another societal implication in that this was the actual result of transgenic Dr. Eduardo Kac, who spliced rabbit and jellyfish DNA in the year 2000. In sum, the dialectic philosophy is present in Margaret Atwoodââ¬â¢s novel, Oryx and Crake in that it poses multiple arguments. It supports these arguments through real-time societal implications, believable characters, and a radical thesis carried out by Crake. Atwoodââ¬â¢s literary genius is revealed in the fact that, all three of these elements draw sympathy from the reader, and in effect persuade the reader to believe the rationale behind the destruction of their own society.
Monday, January 20, 2020
Television: Helps And Hinders :: essays research papers
Television is a drug. Although when first invented it was used as a family entertaining device, its purpose has been greatly altered. Now with over sixty channels to choose from, people of all ages can easily find a show that will grab their attention. This, however, is not the problem. The problem is caused when the person starts to change their daily routine in order to tune in to their favorite programs. Television acts as a drug in that it can help or hinder an individual based on their needs. Un fortunaltely, a person may become so addicted to a television show that they put everything going on around them on hold. One example of this would be when Amy, a friend, told me about a bad experience she had gone through while being baby sat. The babysitter was watching her one afternoon, when the time came for the sitterââ¬â¢s soap to come on. The sitter immediately picked her up, put her in the crib, and dashed out of the room so no part of her show would be missed. This was nothing new to Amy; it was actually part of her daily routine. As the daily practice seemed to be going along as scheduled, a rude awakening was lurking around the corner. As a matter of fact it wasnââ¬â¢t usual at all...it was life threatening. Amy started to choke on a piece of plastic that broke off a toy she had put in her mouth. The baby-sitter left about and inch of the door open, so she could sort of see what was going on in the room. Amy was standing over the side of her crib when she started to choke. With one hand on a bottle, and the other shoving the toy in her mouth, the bottle dropped. If the television had been turned up much louder, the baby sitter never would of heard the thump of the bottle fall. If the thump of the bottle never had been heard, Amy would not be here today. An addiction to a television show is repulsive when it jeopardizes the life of a human being. In contrast, television programming geared toward kids such as Sesame Street and Blues Clues spark a childââ¬â¢s ability to learn at a young age. Both are good predecessors to pre-school and kindergarten. Sesame Street helps kids prepare to learn while keeping its award-winning traditions it is known for.
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Ibm Case Study Essay
1. What factors led to IBMââ¬â¢s success during the 1960s and 1970s and its problems during the late 1980s and early 1990s? 3 pts. 2. Q: What did Gerstner do when he assumed the role of CEO in April 1993? A: Gerstner realized that rather than break up the company, he could turn it around by going to market as ââ¬Å"one IBM.â⬠To prevent customers from leaving in droves before he completed the turnaround, Gerstner called on each senior executive to go out to a group of customers and ââ¬Å"bearhugâ⬠them. He made the executives personally responsible for their assigned customer accounts and accountable for any problems that arose. At the same time, he asked each of the executives to write two papers, one on the executiveââ¬â¢s business and the other on key issues and recommendations for solving problems and pursuing opportunities. Q: Evaluate Gerstnerââ¬â¢s approach to crisis management. How well did he perform as a turnaround manager? A: Iââ¬â¢d have to give credit to Gerstner. He seemed to know where the problems lied within the company and viewed himself from a customer standpoint, rectifying customer concerns but from a corporate head standpoint. Based on the following information, this is how he did it: ââ¬Å"The sales organization, which had been organized by geography and product, was reorganized into global sales teams. In response to numerous customer complaints, a customer relationship manager and a dedicated sales and service team were appointed for each key customer account. These teams were grouped within larger vertical industry teams, and product specialists were assigned to each. The product specialists served as boundary spanners, moving back and forth between focused product groups and key account teams, taking product knowledge to the field and customer input back to the product groups. Product specialists reported to the product organization, but incentives rewarded increased sales of their products through industry sales teams.â⬠It is as if Gerstner knew the problematic areas that made the company fail to meet satisfactory levels and although it was a tough call, Gerstnerââ¬â¢s turnaround plan seemed a success and as a masterplan! Q: What challenges did he face as he attempted to position the company for growth? 5 pts. A: The changes Gerstner proposed was met by some or much opposition. Many that had been around the company for quite some time, felt as though the changes that Gerster was implementing meant the demise of the company that they knew. The methods of which Gerstner was using from a managerââ¬â¢s standpoint seemed a bit unorthodox and didnââ¬â¢t fit well with the IBM culture and business model. Here is what was mentioned as a challenge Gerstner faced: ââ¬Å"One group of managersââ¬âthose who ran IBMââ¬â¢s country organizationsââ¬âfound the move to ââ¬Å"One IBMâ⬠especially difficult. They believed global managers could not be relied upon to make the right choices for local markets and that initiatives and instructions from IBM corporate needed to be ââ¬Å"customizedâ⬠for particular countries. The differences came to a head when Gerstner found out that his notes to employees were being rewritten by country managers to ââ¬Å"better fit their environment.â⬠The senior executive responsible for the country managers was fired, and many country managers resigned. Those who stayed were rapidly elevated to key positions. Despite pockets of resistance, Gerstner was impressed by employeesââ¬â¢ capacity to absorb change:â⬠So based off the 3. Why do large established companies, like IBM, find it so difficult to build successful and sustainable new businesses? 3 pts. 4. Evaluate IBMââ¬â¢s approach to leading mature, high growth, and emerging business opportunities. What are the organization design and leadership models required to manage each type of business? How should a company like IBM (or AT & T, for example) manage the innovation process? 7 pts. 5. What challenges did Sam Palmisano face as he assumed control of IBM in March 2002? Can a company like IBM (or AT & T) be organized for both innovation and efficient operation ââ¬â can it be both ââ¬Å"bigâ⬠and ââ¬Å"smallâ⬠? What advice would you give Palmisano at the end of the case? 7 pts. NOTE: You must respond to these questions in your own words i.e. do not copy straight from the case study ââ¬â provide your interpretation and analysis.
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Defense on Socrates Essay - 1619 Words
Defense on Socrates There are times in every mans life where our actions and beliefs collideÃâ"these collisions are known as contradictions. There are endless instances in which we are so determined to make a point that we resort to using absurd overstatements, demeaning language, and false accusations in our arguments. This tendency to contradict ourselves often questions our character and morals. Similarly, in The Trial of Socrates (Platos Apology), Meletus fallacies in reason and his eventual mistake of contradicting himself will clear the accusations placed on Socrates. In this paper, I will argue that Socrates is not guilty of corrupting the youth with the idea of not believing in the Gods but of teaching the youth to think forâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The next step in the line of reasoning that supports the thesis of this paper is that Meletus contradicts himself by saying that Socrates both believes and does not believe in the Gods. Socrates begins by asking Meletus if he thinks that Socrates has corrupted the young by teach[ing] them not to acknowledge the gods which the state acknowledges, but some other new divinities, and Meletus agrees that this is the reason for his accusation. However, Meletus further states that Socrates is a complete atheist, meaning that he does not believe in god at all. This inconsistency in Meletus answers refute the entire accusation that Socrates is an atheist because Meletus already has established that Socrates teaches other men to acknowledge some gods, and therefore that [he] does believe in gods, and [is] not an entire atheist. This can also be presented as an argument in which our first premise is (P1) that Atheists do not believe in Gods, our second premise is that (P2) Socrates believes in God, and our conclusion therefore is that (C) Socrates is not an Atheist. This logically proves that Meletus is incorrect in his reasoning and that Socrates is not guilty of teaching the youth not toShow MoreRelatedDefense of Socrat es1888 Words à |à 8 PagesApology: Defence Of Socrates By: Gregory Klima Apology Defense Of Socrates Plato s The Apology is an account of the speech Socrates makes at the trial in which he is charged with the following 1) Not recognizing the gods recognized by the state 2) Corrupting the youth of Athens For the most part, Socrates spoke in a very plain, conversational manner, as one would speak to a friend or lecture a child. He explained that he has no experience with courts and demeanor that comes with , heRead More Defense of Socrates Essay1590 Words à |à 7 PagesDefense of Socrates There are times in every mans life where our actions and beliefs collideââ¬âthese collisions are known as contradictions. There are endless instances in which we are so determined to make a point that we resort to using absurd overstatements, demeaning language, and false accusations in our arguments. This tendency to contradict ourselves often questions our character and morals. Similarly, in The Trial of Socrates (Platoââ¬â¢s Apology), Meletusââ¬â¢ fallacies in reason and his eventualRead More Socrates Defense Essay843 Words à |à 4 PagesThey begin by telling everyone not to be deceived and to take caution because Socrates is a ââ¬Å"clever speakerâ⬠. According to Socrates, the difference between him and his accusers is that he speaks the truth. He is on trial for two items, which include, corrupting the youth and impiety. Socrates tells everyone that he has no experience with the court and he will speak the way he is used to by being honest and direct. Socrates explains that his behavior is from the oracle of Apollo at Delphi. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Read MoreThe Socrates Defense Speech755 Words à |à 4 PagesIn Socrates defense speech there were certain parts that could have influenced the jury to judge him as guilty and sentenced him to death. The first time Socrates words failed him in this way was when he said that there was no one wiser than him according to the Pythia (Lines 21a). The jury mostly likely interpreted this as, if a man who is of such low class is ââ¬Å"wiserâ⬠than them then that must mean they know nothing. The jury probably took offense to this because they all felt they had known theirRead MoreThe Trial of Socrates: an Analysis and Construction of Socrates Defense2369 Words à |à 10 PagesThe Trial of Socrates: An Analysis and Construction of Socrates Defense Understanding the decisions made by the jurymen in Socrates trial will always be a mystery, but one can perceive why some would have voted the way that they did. Politically and historically Athens was a thriving place of innovation and philosophical advancements. Athens could very well be divided, morally on various aspects, one of them being which ââ¬Å"politicalâ⬠affiliation Athenians related themselves with. Some choicesRead MoreEssay about Defense of Socrates595 Words à |à 3 Pages Platoââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Defense of Socratesâ⬠follows the trial of Socrates for charges of corruption of the youth. His accuser, Meletus, claims he is doing so by teaching the youth of Athens of a separate spirituality from that which was widely accepted. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Socratesââ¬â¢ argument was unique in that he tried to convince the jury he was just an average man and not to be feared, but in actuality demonstrated how clever and tenacious he was. He begins with an anecdote of his visit to the OracleRead MoreSocrates (Defense), the Apology Essay1014 Words à |à 5 PagesSocrates ââ¬â ââ¬Å"The Apologyâ⬠or (Defense) Socrates had no written work, never had a job and there are questions of whether he was even literate. However, Plato was a student of Socrates and recorded what occurred at his death trial. Socrates asked lots of questions and made people with political power look stupid. At no time during his trial does he claim to be innocent. He (attacks his accuser instead) There were two types of charges brought against him. - The new or (Official) ChargesRead MoreSocrates Systematic Defense Essay2053 Words à |à 9 PagesPlatos Apology begins with the opening statements of Socrates. The jurymens ears are still ringing with the sound of his accusers well-crafted arguments, and the stage is set for Socrates to defend himself. The reputable orator surprisingly begins his defense by stating that he is not going to ââ¬Å"toy with wordsâ⬠but will argue his case with the first words that come to mind (17c). The tension becomes evident as Socrates systematic defense leads him to contradict his opening statements and undermineRead MoreThe Defense Of Socrates, Euthyphro, And Crito Essay2308 Words à |à 10 PagesThe Defense of Socrates Essay In the book Plato: The Defense of Socrates, Euthyphro, and Crito, Socrates is accused and taken to court on the charges of corrupting the youth, impiety, and his slandering of orators. His accusers most notably Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon have all requested that Socrates be trailed and punished under the law for his crimes. During Socratesââ¬â¢ trail he is given a chance to explain himself against the accusations which he is being convicted under. IfRead MoreSocrates Defense Against The Criticism Of Plato s Apology2077 Words à |à 9 PagesAfter the introductory remarks, Platoââ¬â¢s Apology continues with Socratesââ¬â¢ defense against the ââ¬Å"First Accusations,â⬠because his accusers are many, and of all ages: the older accusers have persuaded the youth to speak and think badly of Socrates, and given that they were at an age of influence, the lesson stuck. The old accusations that Socrates has to address first and foremost are: ââ¬Å"Socrates is guilty of wrongdoing in that he busies himself studying things in the sky and below the earth; he makes
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Sociology Poverty and Stratification - 812 Words
Living with a poverty level income is a difficulty facing many people around the world; poverty is a cultural universal, or trait found in every known culture ââ¬â not an expression of individual differences. The most basic explanation for this is the trend towards social stratification, the system by which society organizes itself into a hierarchy. In some cultures this is manifest in the form of a caste system in which people who are in poverty have little to no chance of escaping it. In the United States the system is more in the form of a class system in which there is at least some degree of social mobility, and less status consistency allows people in poverty to have the possibility of changing their social status, but rarely theâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦In most cases U.S. citizens who are in poverty are in relative poverty in relation to the rest of the U.S. population; whereas in the world as a whole a greater number of people are in absolute poverty and are barely able to survive on their income, or wages and earnings, and they have very little to no wealth since it is impossible to save any of their money. Ethnocentrism makes it difficult to obtain a clear picture of the conditions of poverty and inequality in other nations and cultures. There are many theories concerning the causes and solution for poverty in the global economy. The two major theories are the modernization theory which explains inequality in terms of technological and cultural difference between nations, and the dependency theory which explains poverty in terms of the historical exploitation of poor, or low-income, nations by rich, or high-income, nations. This theory has manifest itself in a new way in todayââ¬â¢s world in the form of neocolonialism; economic exploitation by multinational corporations. Race and ethnicity is key factor to poverty in the U.S. since an African-American is three times more likely to be in poverty than a non-Hispanic white. People with diffe rent ethnic backgrounds may experience alienation, or discrimination as a result of their differences with the people around them. Blaming the victim is a common explanation for poverty, but it doesnââ¬â¢t stand up to scrutiny since there are countless factorsShow MoreRelatedSociology Is The Scientific Study Of Society And Human Behavior895 Words à |à 4 Pagesto the Marriam Webster dictionary, the simple definition of sociology is ââ¬Å"the study of society, social institution, and social relationships. Based on the textbook, ââ¬Å"sociology is the scientific study of society and human behaviorâ⬠(G-6). Through the two definitions, one can deduce that the study of Sociology is a discipline that explains and analysis the human culture in terms of their social relationships and social institutions. Sociology is a study that explains the social world which human beingsRead MoreThe Battle with Social Class773 Words à |à 4 Pagessystem of social stratification, the hierar chy creates specific types of social inequalities. Social inequality refers to the existence of social inequalities created such as ownership, types of occupation that creates differences in wealth, income and power, while social stratification refers to the existence of social groups. Class can be arranged to economic factors such as income, education, wealth and other factors at work. Poverty remains high and could argue that true poverty cannot exist inRead MoreSocial Stratification1589 Words à |à 7 PagesASSESS THE APPLICABILITY OF THE CONFLICT THEORY IN EXPLAINING STRATIFICATION. ââ¬ËStratificationââ¬â¢ is a term used to characterize a structure of inequality where individuals occupy differentiated structural positions and the positions are situated in layers (or strata) that are ranked hierarchically according to broadly recognized standards .( Durlauf 1999) The conflict theory in relation to social stratification argues that stratification,â⬠reflects the distribution of power in society and is thereforeRead MoreA Theoretical Review Of Global Stratification913 Words à |à 4 PagesMolly Hartlage Professor Michelle Crist Sociology 1010, Introduction to Sociology 11 December 2015 A Theoretical Review of Global Stratification Global stratification is defined as social inequality throughout the world. It is an unequal distribution of wealth and poverty, of resources and opportunities. Global stratification is much greater than social stratification in the United States or in any single nation and continues to increase. The poorest people in the United States have a much higherRead MoreSocial Stratification According to Marx and Weber1163 Words à |à 5 PagesSocial stratification is the hierarchical arrangement of individuals into divisions of power and wealth within a society. Social stratification relates to the socio-economic concept of class, consisting of the upper class, middle class, and lower class. Each class may be further subdivided into smaller classes through the main indicator is occupation. This is the most practical and most effective means of encompassing the wide variety of economic and social elements that go to make up a personââ¬â¢sRead MoreSocial Stratification Is A Society Wide System949 Words à |à 4 Pages What is Social Stratification? Social Stratification refers to a societyââ¬â¢s categorization of itââ¬â¢s people in to rankings from middle, lower, and upper class. Many aspects referring to social standings reflects ones wealth, income, race, and education. In most cases the higher your social class the more opportunities are available to you. For instance, think of it as a pyramid. The people who have wealth, power, and prestige, represent the top layer of the social stratification while other groupsRead MoreThe Conflict Between Personal Experience And The Wider Society910 Words à |à 4 Pagesrelationship between personal experience and the wider societyâ⬠. Simply put, it is the ability to interpret situations and circumstances in terms of social context and understand how they interact and influence each other. Different paradigms of sociology exist to explain the ongoing social issues and their factors, and offer solutions for a more evolved society. Contrary to popular association of homelessness with drugs, alcohol, violence and crime, it is not always an outcome of laziness or wrongRead MoreBaltimore Riots : Option 1992 Words à |à 4 Pagescontributor, this riot was more about social injustice and class stratification. Furthermore, these riots show that even though the carnage is localized to one city, and sometimes even just a few blocks, the repercussions can ripple countrywide. Finally, within sociology, there are many theories as to why social deviance happen, this event happens to intersect two major ones, functional analysis and conflict theory. In Interest of Sociology The riots in Baltimore, Maryland hold major sociological implicationsRead MoreSocial Stratification And The Caste System Essay1342 Words à |à 6 PagesSocial Stratification Social stratification is an important component of society, as it helps individuals determine their proper place in society by creating a form of social hierarchy (Larkin, 2015). Many analysis use the social stratification system to help determine the inequalities, and this system of organization is found in every society across the world, though it will differ from one society to another (Larkin, 2015). Sociologists group different and diverse people into different levelsRead Morecauses of social stratification in named caribbean society809 Words à |à 4 PagesDescribe the causes of social stratification in the Caribbean countries. In every known human society there is form of social inequality. This system was derived from events that took place some years ago. Social stratification can be class under the system of Plantation System and Social Mobility. According to Jenniffer Mohammed- Caribbean studies (2011). This rank or position in the social hierarchy is the lowest stratification occupied by the poorest groups
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Class in the Great Gatsby and Great Expectations- myassignmenthelp
Question: Write about theClass in the Great Gatsby and Great Expectations. Answer: Social class refers to a set of subjectively defined concept in relation to the social sciences that is centered on the model of social stratification. People are grouped together into different social categories on the basis of their position in the society. It is a great subject of analysis for the sociologists and anthropologists. In common usage, it is synonymous with that of the socio-economic class and people who belong to the same socio-economic strata are grouped together. The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald brings to light the dramatic difference between that of the social classes in the era of the 1920s. The movie opens in an elementary school where some kids have access to a great deal of social capital like that of good looks, games and stylish clothing. They form a part of the in-group and belong to the popular crowd. Those people who are not endowed with these superficial traits are shunned by this popular group and they belong to a different social class. The social divisions continue to stay with the individual even after they emerge into the world of adulthood. Social status becomes all the more solidified in the adult world when the material possessions play a greater role. Adults become all the more segregated on account of the social class. The people who have abundant resources enjoy a different lifestyle as compared to those who do not have it and the world of opulence is portrayed with the help of the house-parties and countr y clubs. In contrast to this, Great Expectations written by Charles Dickens opens with the central character Pip running to the churchyard to look at the headstones of his parents, Philip Pirrip and Georgiana. The terror and helplessness in the life of the young boy is captured when he identifies himself as small bundle of shivers growing afraid. The loneliness in the life of young Pip is shown in the opening scene when he is shown alone in the cemetery. While, the world in The Great Gatsby is shown as being opulent on the other hand Great Expectations shows people struggling for minimal livelihood. He comes across a convict on the Kent marshes and this convict is like the ogre of childhood fairy tale and it introduced the audience to the world of criminality. Pips connection to the world of criminality is laid bare in the opening scene and several symbols in the course of the movie like that of gallow, signpost and the beacon clearly highlights the important role that crime played in the society. The cinematic technique used in the movie The Great Gatsby uses a lot of colours and light that symbolizes the opulent lifestyle of the characters. The fashionable East Egg where Daisy Buchanan lived along with that of Tom Buchanan stands as the epitome of luxury. Buchanans along with that of Jordan Baker live a life that is privileged as shown by the house parties and grand houses. Their class and social status has an important bearing on the way they deal with life. From the perspective of the Marxist, it is control over that of the natural and economic resources that is instrumental within the society to divide people. The haves refer to those people who have control over these aspects as compared to those who do not have control over the natural and economic resources. Class was thus directly related to the factor of wealth within the ambit of the cinema. The Buchanans along with that of Jay Gatsby constitute an integral part of the privileged class which they have received by vi rtue of acquiring property and education. Nick Carraway on the other hand belong to the class of the propertyless intelligentsia and Wilsons on the other hand belong to that of the working class. Great Expectations ranges from that of the low class convict and orphans to that of the poor working class of Joe and Biddy and it extended to that of the wealthy Miss Havisham. Miss Havisham made her fortune by manufacturing beer. A difference thus exists between the class of both the novels. The characters of the novel are not blessed with the fortune of traditional aristocracy and instead make their living by their hard work. They are self-made and they rise in the hierarchies of the society by the dint of their own labour. The characters of Great Expectations seems to be very close to the real world whereas the world as depicted in The Great Gatsby is a world of glamour and opulence an bears close resemblance to the world of films. The characters drown in the world of luxury and are inclined in pursuing money that will embolden them with power. The lighting effect has been used very carefully in the course of the Great Expectations. The world is portrayed in shades of grey, black and white that signifies the world of criminality and the danger lurking in the society. The characters are portrayed in the way they are and the use of minimal sounds highlights the dreary monotonous life of the characters as opposed to the extravagant life of the characters of The Great Gatsby. The bright lights used highlight the opulence of the characters of The Great Gatsby. It portrays the high class and distinctive lifestyle of the characters. Dickens criticizes three problems in the society that plagues the Victorian England: treatment meted out to children, injustice of structure of the social class and inhumanity in relation to government and law. The children were objectified like a cost free commodity in order to support the industrial revolution. The constant beatings that was perpetrated on the character of Philip Pirrip by the guardian Mrs. Joe highlights the sad plight of the poor orphans who were left at the mercy of others in Victorian England. It brings out the dehumanization in relation to the children of Britain. Trabbs Boy who is another young boy of the age of Pip is compelled to work for the tailor and he is objectified and treated like a labour commodity. Estella is also symbolic of the dehumanization in relation to the children. She does not have to work as a child because of the possessions of her guardian, Miss Havisham but she is raised to be an object who listens to all the advices of Miss Havisham. Society was obsessed with that of wealth and many people who worked in the factories were made to work like that of slaves. They had to enter the world at a young age and they had to work around twelve hours a day and were in turn paid a meagre amount. In The Great Gatsby, the decline in the moral values is directly proportional to that of wealth. The greed of the characters in The Great Gatsby was clearly evident and the unwavering belief of the society in the society is made clear in the course of the movie. The narration of the work is done with the help of moral retrospection of the character of Nick Carraway. His criticisms of the greed and carelessness bring to light the perversions in the mind of the people of the upper class . Daisy married Tom Buchanan because at that point of time Tom was far wealthier than that of Jay Gatsby. An expensive necklace is presented as a gift to daisy that makes Daisy accept the marriage proposal of Tom. The shallow mind of the people is thus highlighted with the help of the character of Daisy. At the time of The Victorian era, there was no facility for state education and the lower class people could not send their children to the school and they had to suffer the dismal working conditions of the factories . This injustice plagued the society of the time of Charles Dickens and a society that values the wealth has been brought to the light in the course of the work. In this way, it is similar to the world of Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby. Money and social class determined the prestige that one will enjoy in the society. From this point of view, the world can be termed as shallow in relation to both these works and the mentality of the people was narrow. The characters who are poor had moral principles whereas those who are wealthy were the most corrupt and immoral The moral stalwart of Pip is Joe and Joe is looked down upon for his humble means. Later in the course of the work, Pip ridicules him for his humility when he himself becomes wealthy. This hypocrisy suggests the mo ral failure of the society who failed to obey by the right moral code. In The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway enjoys the company of Jordan Baker on account of her fame and position in the society. As Carraway continues to spend more time with the character of Jordan Baker, he realizes that she is afraid from the inside. When Jordan Baker was at a young age, she had to learn about coping mechanisms that would keep her happy in the society. Baker was taught to be fake so that she can tap into the superficial want of the upper classes. Caraway notices that these streaks were present in most of the members of the upper class. The wealthy members of the society twist their individual perspective so that they can gain happiness out of it (The unappealing qualities can be found in the people belonging to the top hierarchy of the society. Towards the end of the novel, when Nick is given the opportunity to continue his profession as New York bondsman or whether to return back home, he prefers his life back home because he feels that the people who come from that of the upper class are to a large extent unhappy and superficial . Towards the end of the novel, Great Expectations, Pip is arrested for debt and put in the prison. He is however spared on account of his failing health. He feels that he is hallucinating the face of Joe but actually Joe has arrived in order to nurse him in his difficult time. Joe though poor is portrayed as a sincere man having great moral principles. Pip and Joe went out for a Sunday outing like the times when they were small. People may be moved by false pretenses but in the end they would prefer the virtuous life. After eleven years, Pip comes back to England. He has learnt the importance of hard work and is happy with a modest life. He works in a mercantile firm that shows that in the end he is contented with a simple, happy life. Money creates a desire in the human nature of greed. When people become wealthy, they want to rise in the social ladder and they become corrupted. The personal values are compromised when one becomes rich. Great Expectations along with that of The Great Gatsby show that the protagonists think that wealth can be used in order to serve the common good but many values are compromised during this process. Pip and Gatsby want to use the money in order to get their love in their life (When trying to achieve these goal, a lot is compromised. When Pip gets the money from unknown benefactor he comes under the guidance of Jaggers and hardly returned to his home town. In the initial stage, his main reason for his return was in order to visit Joe and Biddy but after gaining the social stature he becomes proud and visiting these people becomes laborious for him. These illustrates how social position in the society changes the individual and he starts treating the people in his life from his humbl e beginnings with a lot of scorn. Previously he used to look to Joe as a father figure but later on he does not want to see him because Joe is a blacksmith. The end of the novel of The Great Gatsby reveals Nick assuming responsibility for the final arrangement of Gatsby as no one else was interested ). It shows the shallowness of the people who used to come to his house and indulge in eating and drinking but deserted him in his final hour.The ending highlights the callous nature of the people. Klipspringer completely puts away the issue of the funeral of Gatsby and shamelessly asks Nick about a pair of shoes. Elevated status in terms of wealth compels an individual to crave for more and increased want results in bending the rules in order to serve the self-interest of a person. It is found throughout the world that individuals who have a high social status tend to look down upon the poor and those who are less fortunate as compared to that of other people. People who have money and social status became less ethical in their dealings with the society ). The rich people have a tendency to act for their own narrow and selfish interest. Different positions occupied by individuals in the society thus give rise to divergent social values. Overarching value is related to money in the complex world of today. Ethical values should be the priority of an individual but once people acquire wealth and social status the principles are compromised and serving their narrow interest becomes their main agenda. The decadence of moral principles has become a grave topic in the complex environment of the mode rn world and rigorous thinking is required to change the mindset of an individual.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)