Emma by Jane Austen Research Paper Example

Emma by Jane Austen Paper Societal Affects of Love Emma, by Jane Austen, is a classic comedy that took place in the nineteenth-century near London, England. Emma tells the tale of a heroine attempting to be the matchmaker for everyone, and ultimately herself. Emma Woodhouse, the main character, loses her dear friend and governess, Miss Taylor, to Miss Taylor’s marriage, in which she becomes Mrs. Weston. Emma, in search of another cherished companion, comes across Harriet Smith. Although Harriet comes from a lower class in society, Emma admires her beauty and takes it upon herself to improve Harriet in order to make her acceptable to the upper class. For instance, Mr. Martin, a local farmer, seems to have fallen in love with Harriet, yet Emma suggests that she reject him because she believes Harriet has the potential to get a man who is high in society. Harriet complies, and Emma goes on to recommend Mr. Elton, a preacher, whom she believes is a perfect match for Harriet. Though, later on Emma realizes Mr. Elton has in fact fallen in love with her, rather than Harriet, making her question her matchmaking skills. After a period of absence from matchmaking, Mrs. Weston’s stepson, Frank Churchill, visits town and Emma falls for him. Harriet approaches Emma with the declaration that she has fallen in love with another man, however Emma insists that Harriet keep the name to herself due to Emma’s fear of ruining a potential companionship because of her lack of skill of matchmaking. Emma fears that Harriet is in love with Frank, so she revokes her personal feelings for him in order to further Harriet’s chances at obtaining a man of higher class. We will write a custom essay sample on Emma by Jane Austen specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Emma by Jane Austen specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Emma by Jane Austen specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer However, Emma discovers that Frank is already engaged to Jane Fairfax and discloses this information to Harriet. When Harriet is informed of this, she seems disinterested, showing she was in fact not in love with Frank, but rather fallen for Mr. Knightly. Once this information is disclosed, Emma then realizes she is in love with Mr. Knightley as well and he carries the same feelings for her. As one reads the story, it is easily concluded that social ranking is the apparent source of the decisions being made. Waldron says: Everybody except Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill is caught up in a complex web of social assumptions†¦ which creates a hilarious mix of misunderstanding and blunder, so that nobody is seeing exactly what is there, or hearing exactly what is being said. (141) Throughout the story, one can notice that social status and class affect not only the love of the characters, but also, to a sense, determine their lives. Being considered high in society, Emma Woodhouse prefers to only be associated with those of the upper class. This explains her desire to change Harriet as soon as she meets her because she notices the potential Harriet possesses even though she is of the lower class. The narrator tells us: Harriet Smith was the natural daughter of somebody. Somebody had placed her, several years back, at Mrs. Goddard’s school, and somebody had lately raised her from the condition of scholar to that of parlour boarder†¦ She was a very pretty girl, and her beauty happened to be of a sort which Emma particularly admired. She was short, plump, and fair, with a fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair, regular features, and a look of great sweetness; and, before the end of the evening, Emma was as much pleased with her manners as her person, and quite determined to continue the acquaintance. (22) Emma associated with the lower class but made sure that everyone knew there was a difference between her and them. She did not want to ruin her reputation by being seen with people beneath her. Miss Emma Woodhouse likes the feeling of helping people who are lower than her; therefore, that is the only time she mixes with the lower class. After Emma’s time spent with Harriet, Emma thinks she has raised Harriet in society. When Mr. Robert Martin, a farmer, falls in love with Harriet, he proposes. Emma does not like this and is a very manipulative girl. Eugene Goodheart states, â€Å"Emma is willful, manipulative, an arranger or rather a misarranger of other peoples lives† (589). Emma, being the manipulative girl she is, doesn’t directly tell Harriet to reject his proposal but hints that she doesn’t need to accept him because she could do a lot better. Emma didn’t even really know Mr. Martin. All she knew was that he was a farmer and farmers were considered the low class, so she just let her beliefs about class ranking steer her opinion to decline Mr. Martin. Miss Woodhouse then shares with Harriet that if she had accepted his proposal then they could no longer be friends because she would be down lower on the social class ranking. Emma says: Perfectly, perfectly right, my dearest Harriet; you are doing just what you ought. While you were at all in suspense, I kept my feelings to myself, but now that you are so completely decided, I have no hesitation in approving. Dear Harriet, I give yself joy of this. It would have grieved me to lose your acquaintance, which must have been the consequence of your marrying Mr. Martin. (52-53) After declining Mr. Martin’s proposal, Miss Woodhouse and Mr. Knightley get into an argument because Mr. Knightley sees that Harriet is actually lower in class than Mr. Martin, while Emma disagrees. Mr. Knightley states, â€Å"Nonsense! Har riet Smith refuse Robert Martin! Madness, if it is so; but I hope you are mistaken† (60). Emma thinks that since she is a friend of Harriet, she cannot possibly be that low in class because Emma doesn’t associate with the lower class. When Harriet has to return a visit from Mr. Martin’s sister, Elizabeth, Emma tells her to make it brief because she cannot stoop down to their level in class. This act offends the Martins because Harriet had stayed with them for a couple of months and they think the least she can do is stay and chat. I agree with Julia Brown in that, â€Å"Her greatest sin in the novel is cutting off Harriets warm attachment to the Martins; as Lionel Trilling has said, she is a reactionary, out to stop social mobility† (Brown). Emma thinks that if you are high in society then you need to associate with the higher classmen and if you are lower, only associate with lower classmen. Another instance in which class ranking dominates is when Emma wants Harriet to marry Mr. Elton. She thinks he is in love with her because of all the little gestures she notices. Brown writes, â€Å"As always in Jane Austen, the smallest detail of behavior can justify the most definitive judgment† (Brown). For example, Emma is painting a portrait of Harriet and Mr. Elton watches her the whole time and offers to go get it framed in London when she is done. Goodheart thinks: Emma ignores both the temperamental disaffinity and the social distance between them—and more grievously she misunderstands the desires of Mr. Elton. He is a vicar from a good family with social ambitions; Harriet†¦ wholly in thrall to Emmas matchmaking machinations. (589-590) Mr. Elton doesn’t want to marry Harriet because she is low in society and he doesn’t want to degrade himself by marrying her. Mr. Elton explains to Emma: Miss Smith! I never thought of Miss Smith in the whole course of my existence; never paid her any attentions, but as your friend; never cared whether she were dead or alive, but as your friend. If she has fancied otherwise, her own wishes have misled her, and I am very sorry, extremely sorry†¦ Oh, Miss Woodhouse, who can think of Miss Smith when Miss Woodhouse is near? I have only thought of you†¦ Everything that I have said or done, for many weeks past, has been with the sole view of marking my adoration of yourself. (132) When Emma finds out that Mr. Elton loves her and not Harriet, she believes that Mr. Elton only loves her because he feels that she can help raise him in society: â€Å"She [Emma] thought nothing of his attachment, and was insulted by his hopes. He wanted to marry well and, having the arrogance to raise his eyes to her, pretended to be in love; but she was perfectly easy as to his not suffering any disappointment that need be cared for† (136). When Emma realizes this, she is disturbed. She does not notice this, but she is doing the exact same thing. Her class ranking status always leads her into her decision or behaviors. Later, Emma retrieves information that Mr. Elton had married a woman that did increase his society ranking. He married Miss Augusta Hawkins. She is considered a social climber; someone who has money and wealth, but not really what it takes to be considered high in society. She thinks money alone makes you higher ranked, which aggravates Emma. We also see later on in the book how Emma thinks of The Coles as social climbers too. They have recently become wealthier and are trying to act like they are high-class people just because they have more money. Emma doesn’t like this at all. To Emma, everyone ends up sad, frustrated, and lonely when they try to excel their social class ranking. Later on in Emma, after Miss Woodhouse gives up on trying to find the perfect match for Harriet, she finds out that Harriet is now interested in Mr. Knightley: â€Å"I never should have presumed to think of it at first, but for you. You told me to observe him carefully, and let his behaviour be the rule of mine—and so I have. But now I seem to feel that I may deserve him; and that if he does choose me, it will not be anything so very wonderful† (413). After learning of this she realizes that she [Emma] is in love with Mr. Knightley. She thinks Harriet is a good friend, but she doesn’t think she deserves Mr. Knightley. Emma states, â€Å"Mr. Knightley and Harriet Smith! Such an elevation on her side! Such a debasement on his! † (415). Emma regrets teaching Harriet that a match with someone in a higher class is acceptable. Soon, she reveals her love for Mr. Knightley and he does the same for her: If I [Mr. Knightley] loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. But you know what I am I have blamed you, and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other woman in England would have borne it†¦ God knows, I have been a very indifferent lover. But you understand me. Yes, you see, you understand my feelings—and will return them if you can. (432) While debating on how to tell Harriet, Mr. Knightley shares the news that Mr. Martin proposed to Harriet again and this time, she accepted. Emma is happy with their engagement: â€Å"I am perfectly satisfied and most sincerely wish them happy† (477). She realizes they are in the same class and meant for each other: â€Å"In the end, Emma finds through her love of Mr. Knightley that much of her snobbery is false and superficial. We see the layers of it peeling off, especially when she learns that Harriet is—after all—engaged to Robert Martin. † (Brooke 182). She finally saw how ridiculous she was being when trying to match-make Harriet with someone of the higher class: â€Å"She was wise enough, finally, to see the errors of her ways, and to reform. No longer will she consider the villagers as puppets for her amusement. † (Magill Book Reviews). Harriet then realizes how absurd it was to reject Mr. Martin the first time when she had no good reason to reject his proposal of marriage. Emma and Harriet attach their selves to men in their own class ranks and both end up happily ever after. In conclusion, social status was very important in the nineteenth century. Austen’s novel, Emma proves this theory. Brown states, â€Å"In its unlikely and changing combinations, the catalogue gives an impression of social irrationality, overworked variety, and exhaustive socialization. Yet no other novel has more the opposite effect: of rich, unbroken continuity † (Brown). The story also shows the worry produced in the superior classes by increasing class mobility in England. Class mobility is possible but only if one has a natural decency. Eugene Goodheart states, â€Å"The novel concludes in the spirit of comedy with the promise of ‘perfect happiness’, The community at the end is ideally organized or reorganized in a way that makes for happiness. It is a morally as well as a socially hierarchical world†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (595). In the end, everyone is happy when they marry people in their same class. Miss Taylor marries Mr. Weston; Harriet marries Mr. Martin; Emma marries Mr. Knightley; Jane marries Frank Churchill; and Mr. Elton marries Miss Hawkins. Works Cited Austen, Jane. Emma. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1816. Print. Brooke, Christopher. CRITICAL READINGS: Rank and Status. Critical Insights: Jane Austen (2010): 179-200. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 7 Nov. 2010. Brown, Julia Prewitt, and Harold Bloom. Civilization and the Contentment of Emma.. Blooms Modern Critical Interpretations: Emma (1987): 45-66. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 7 Nov. 2010. Emma. Magill Book Reviews (1995): Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 7 Nov. 2010. Goodheart, Eugene. â€Å"Emma: Jane Austen’s Errant Heroine. † 589-604. University of the South, 2008. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 5 Nov. 2010. Waldron, Mary. Men of sense and silly wives: the confusions of Mr. Knightley. Studies in the Novel. (Vol. 28). .2 (Summer 1996): p141. Literature Resource Center. Gale. Mississippi University for Women. 7 Nov. 2010 http://go. galegroup. com/ps/start. do? p=LitRCu=mag_u_muw.

Auburn GPA Calculator Essays

Auburn GPA Calculator Essays Auburn GPA Calculator Paper Auburn GPA Calculator Paper Auburn GPA calculator helps to count the average grade of a person trying to pick the higher educational institutions, which will enable them to get an education and built their future career. If you have decided to become a student if Auburn University, you will need to use Auburn University GPA calculator.   The Auburn University is one of the largest universities in the South of the USA. It occupies the place in the rating of 50 best American state universities. The proud of Auburn University is that students graduating from this higher educational institution become scientists and astronauts for NASA. The institution offers a variety of faculties. Here you can study the natural sciences, humanitarian sciences, and politics. Auburn University has developed a unique program that allows students to enter the first year and acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to continue their studies at the American University.   The University provides students with many options for self -expression and self-development. There are about 300 organizations and clubs established. Regular concerts, cultural events, festivals, art and photo exhibitions, sports competitions and much more are held. Traditionally, the university has its own sports team Auburn Tigers. Auburn University GPA calculator GPA calculator Auburn is an app that is usually used by all potential students of the institution. To estimate the chances to become a member of the University, one needs to count all the results and achievements of different subjects and single out the average grade. GPA is a compulsory requirement. The admission committee demands this number from every person having a desire to occupy the place at the University. As is often the case one needs to calculate the number by himself. To make the life of a potential student easier, on the official page of the Auburn University a program was developed that helps to calculate the GPA. Auburn University GPA Calculator is a handy instrument allowing users to plan their future. A user has a chance to evaluate his opportunities. It is possible to compare the â€Å"what if† GPA with the rating of the last year and single out whether there will be a chance to enter the higher educational institution of a dream. It is better to calculate the â€Å"what if† GPA before the entering campaign to be able to change the marks for the better until the end of studies. Cumulative GPA calculator Auburn Cumulative GPA calculator Auburn allows calculating the average point of the students immediately. To receive a result, one needs to enter the official Auburn University page and fill in the necessary fields. Your task is to insert the name, of course, credit hours and â€Å"what if† grades. The program will calculate your GPA within a second, and you will have the result to compare with the previous year numbers and rating. Try to make the calculations when you still have time to change the marks for the better. It concerns students, whose scores are average or lower than average. They have to make an effort and receive A’s and B’s to be able to correspond to the level of knowledge allowing to get the place at the University of their dream. Make sure to consult the admission committee and ask about all the requirements to be able to prepare for entering campaign thoroughly.

Managing Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Managing Finance - Essay Example All costs involved in the manufacture of goods needs to be captured by the costing system adopted by a company. The method of such cost capturing depends on the manufacturer’s industry, and the type(s) of products manufactured. The two major methods of costing are (a) Process Costing, and (b) Job Costing (Martin, 2009?). Process costing is the normal method of capturing the cost in most manufacturing industries especially when the products are produced in large numbers using a sequence of repetitive operations. Typically, the products are usually identical and can not be segregated. Under this method, the cost of product is known at the end of any particular manufacturing operation. The cost of each process (or department) is captured using one of the costing techniques. The direct cost attributable to the product is calculated by department, and indirect costs are allocated to the products. Industries typically include textiles, coal, cigarettes, shoes, gasoline, steel, glass, automobiles, gas, water, electricity, etc. Job costing is used for industries where manufacturing takes place against a specific order. This method is useful for tracking the costs of unique products, which are usually manufactured to a specific order. In this costing process, costs are accumulated by jobs, lots, or batches. Industries that use this costing method include shipbuilding, construction projects, large contracts, job printing, etc. Absorption costing is also known as Full Costing. Under this system, all direct manufacturing costs, and all manufacturing overheads (including fixed and variable overheads) are allocated to the products. This costing concept is recommended for external reporting as per Accounting Standards Committee (SSAP 9). The limitation of this system is that the product costs can not be used for internal decision making as they would tend to

The Social Security Program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Social Security Program - Essay Example The essay "The Social Security Program" talks about the social security program, the most efficient run program in all state oriented activities in the United States. Under the Social Security sector, aspects of pension income for the retirees, unemployment and fund assistance to the physically and financially challenged; are the major programs reflected. Involvement of insurance agencies and compensation companies and how they relate the persons mentioned above is also monitored by the Social Security program. The progress of these three aspect programs has undergone stiff completion. Maintenance and management of the pension income of the retired have been in the limelight of the actions of the Social Security. This has had success in ensuring the security of insurance and necessary compensation to the retirees over the years. This program has operated amidst its authoritative, incentive and capacitative techniques in order to offer quality services to the retirees. It is the first and main â€Å"Social Security† of America initiated initially for soldiers in 1776. Its vivid historical background of pension security is dated back to the era of civil wars whereby the retirees of the war were honored by paying them off a reduced amount from their original salaries. It was due to the fact that a lot of citizens were left orphaned and widowed by the dead war veterans. The pension fund has increased and broadened its wings to other professionals such as doctors, teachers among others.

Discuss the concept of The Johari Window as a model for personal and Essay

Discuss the concept of The Johari Window as a model for personal and group development - Essay Example ft and Harry Ingham, who conduct studies on human personal characteristics and how it positively or negatively impacts individual, or group behaviour and interaction. Since different people possess different behaviour attributes, it is necessary to know both individual and group behaviour in the context of work environment, not only for gaining optimum work output, but also to ensure harmonious interaction between different members of the group. Through knowing ourselves deeper, broader and better, especially our interacting and interfacing with others, it is possible to introduce positive personality changes in our outlook and interpersonal relations with others- superiors, peers and subordinate groups. This could bring about more effective communications, greater degree of understanding and empathy with others as well as greater a more constructive and harmonious relations with other individuals in our working place. In the long run, this could reap rich benefits for all members of the force and, more significantly, entire corporate as a whole unified unit. At the first stage, a list of attributes or characteristics are provided to the respondents, from which the respondent has to choose a few attributes which he believed he possesses- these could be adjectives like supportive, noble, patience, tolerance, empathy, caring, helping, modest, etc. The list of what the respondents thinks about himself, and what other peer groups, or members of known circles think about him, are compared and fitted in the appropriate quadrant of the Grid Matrix shown below: The four quadrants mentioned above represent the four possible permutations and combinations in terms of one’s self opinion about oneself vis-à  -vis what others may think about the respondent. â€Å"Each of these regions contains and represents the information - feelings, motivation, etc - known about the person, in terms of whether the information is known or unknown by the person, and whether the information

A Solar Cell (The Photovoltaic Cell) Essay

A Solar Cell (The Photovoltaic Cell) Essay A solar cell or the photovoltaic cell is an electrical device that converts light energy directly into electricity. This cell when exposed to light can generate and support an electric current without being attached to any external voltage source. The solar cell uses the photovoltaic effect to produce electricity.thw word Photovoltaic comes from the Greek word meaning light, and from the word Volt, which is the the unit of electro-motive force also the word volt comes from the last name of the inventor of the battery (electrochemical cell), the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta. Thus we get the term photo-voltaic. The photovoltaic effect, in brief, is a process in which electric current is produced in a material upon exposure to light. The photovoltaic effect being directly related to the photoelectric effect is actually a different phenomenon. In photovoltaic effect, the light is incident upon the material surface; the electrons present in the valance band of the atom absorb energy from the light and jump to the conduction band (band theory). Now these electrons are attracted by a positively charged electrode and thus the circuit is completed and the light energy is converted into electric energy. On the other hand, in photoelectric effect, the electrons are ejected from a materials surface upon exposure to radiation. Photovoltaic systems are extraordinary and very useful with a huge list of advantages. The reason they are so unique is they have no moving parts (in the classical mechanical sense) to wear out. There are no fluids or gases (except in hybrid systems) that can leak out. The best part about these is that they need no fuel to operate. Having a rapid response, they achieve full output instantly. These cells can operate at moderate temperatures producing no pollution while producing electricity, although waste products from their manufacture and toxic gases in the event of catastrophic failure and disposal may be a concern. Solar cells require little maintenance if properly manufactured and installed. Silicon, the second most abundant element in the earths crust can be used to make these cells. Thus, their production is possible on a large scale with an added advantage of them being modular, permitting a wide range of solar-electric applications such as: 1) Small scale for remote applications and residential use. 2) Intermediate scale for business and neighborhood supplementary power. 3) Large scale for centralized energy farms of square kilometers size. Solar cells have a relatively high conversion efficiency giving the highest overall conversion efficiency from sunlight to electricity yet measured. This gives them wide power-handling capabilities, from microwatts to megawatts. Clearly, photovoltaic cells have an appealing range of characteristics. [1] 1.1 HISTORY The physical phenomenon responsible for converting light to electricity-the photovoltaic effect-was first observed in 1839 by a French physicist, Edmund Becquerel. Becquerel noted that a voltage appeared when one of two identical electrodes in a weak conducting solution was illuminated. The Photovoltaic effect was first to be noticed and researched in solids, e.g. selenium, in the 1870s. However, it was in 1883 Charles Fritts built the first solid state photovoltaic cell; he coated the semiconductor selenium with an extremely thin layer of gold to form the junctions. The device was only around 1% efficient. In 1888 Russian physicist Aleksandr Stoletov built the first photoelectric cell based on the outer photoelectric effect discovered by Heinrich Hertz earlier in 1887. The first practical photovoltaic cell was developed in 1954 at Bell Laboratories by Daryl Chapin, Calvin Souther Fuller and Gerald Pearson. A diffused silicon p-n junction was used by them; this junction could reach 6% efficiency, as compared to the selenium cells in which it was difficult to reach 0.5%. At first, cells were developed for toys and other minimal uses, since the cost of the electricity they produced then was very high; i.e. a cell that produces 1 watt of electrical power in bright sunlight cost about $250, compared to $2 to $3 per watt for a coal plant. [2] In 1958, the U.S. Vanguard space satellite used a small (less than one-watt) array of cells to power its radio. These cells functioned so well that the space scientists soon realized the Photovoltaic could be a very effective power source for many space missions. Technological development of the solar cell has been a part of the space program ever since then. Besides the space programs, another source is the transistor industry has contributed greatly to solar-cell technology. Transistors and PV cells are made from similar materials, and their workings are determined by many of the same physical mechanisms. A great amount of research and development has been done in improving and developing the ever-useful transistor, and there has been a regular discovery of valuable information in relation to solar cells. This situation has reversed in recent times and much of the research happening in PV is affecting transistor technology. 1.2 EFFICIANCY OF SOLAR CELLS Today, photovoltaic systems are capable of transforming one kilowatt of solar energy falling on one square meter into about a hundred watts of electricity. One hundred watts can power most household appliances like television, stereo, or a lamp etc. . In fact, on a standard basis a roof covered with solar cells facing the sun in a typical home provides about 8500-kilowatthours of electricity annually, which also is almost equal to a average households annual consumption on electricity. On comparison, a present-day, 200-ton electric-arc steel furnace, demanding electricity worth 50,000 kilowatts, would for a PV power supply, require about a square kilometer of land. Certain factors make capturing solar energy difficult. Apart from the suns low illuminating power per square meter, sunlight is discontinuous and is affected by time of day, climate, pollution, and season. Power sources based on photovoltaic require either back-up from other sources or storage for times when the sun is obs cured. Moreover, the cost of a photovoltaic system is very high (electricity from PV systems in 1980 cost about 20 times * that from conventional systems powered by fossil fuels). Thus, solar energy for photovoltaic conversion into electricity is abundant, inexhaustible, and clean; yet, on the other hand it also requires special techniques to gather enough of it effectively. When sunlight is incident on the solar cell, most of the energy is lost even before it can be converted to electricity. Maximal sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiencies for solar cells range up to 30% (and even higher for some highly complex cell designs), but typical efficiencies are 10%-15%. Most current work on cells is directed at enhancing efficiency while lowering cost. Certain physical processes limit cell efficiency-some are inherent and cannot be changed; many can be improved by proper design. Reflection is the first factor that reduces the efficiency of the cell. Normal, untreated silicon reflects 36% (or more) of the sunlight that strikes it. This would be a horrendous loss in terms of efficiency. Fortunately, there are several ways of treating cell surfaces to cut reflection drastically. By dint of these methods, reflection can be lowered to a quite manageable 5% or so. The second factor affecting the electricity production and then, in turn, the efficiency of the cell is the intensity of light falling on it. Now, this light can be of two types- -Light that is not energetic enough to separate electrons from their atomic bonds. -Light that has extra energy beyond that needed to separate electrons from bonds. Both of the above types of light contribute in reducing the efficiency of the cell. Light entering a solar cell can- a. Go right through it. b. Become absorbed, generating heat in the form of atomic vibrations. c. Separate an electron from its atomic bond, producing an electron-hole pair. d. Produce an electron-hole pair but have an excess of energy, which then becomes heat. Only (c) is a near-perfect means of transforming sunlight into electricity. Since the suns spectrum has a wide variety of energies and intensities, the key is to match a material and its characteristic band gap energy with the spectrum so that the maximum amount of energy in the suns spectrum falls just above the characteristic energy. The third factor that reduces the efficiency of the cell is electron-hole recombination. There are two ways in which recombination of electrons and holes occurs, which can be characterized as direct and indirect recombination. -Direct Recombination: Direct recombination is relatively rare. It happens when an electron and a hole randomly encounter each other, and the electron falls back into the hole. Thus the materials original bonds are reasserted, and the electrons and holes energies are lost as heat. -Indirect Recombination: Indirect recombination can occur in many ways. (Indirect means that the electron and hole do not just run into each other and combine-the interaction is influenced by further circumstances.) Contrary to what one might expect, indirect recombination is much more of a problem in solar cells than direct recombination. Resistance is a factor which reduced efficiency of almost all known electrical appliances and the solar cell is no different. Resistance losses in solar cells occur predominantly in three places: in the bulk of the base material, in the narrow top-surface layer typical of many cells and at the interface between the cell and the electric contacts leading to an external circuit. Resistance losses lower voltage and enhance the chances of recombination of charges, reducing current. Usually it is better to highly dope silicon to reduce resistance as highly doped silicon has numerous free carriers to conduct the current. After considering the various factors discussed, we can actually look forward to see and study the construction of the solar cells with maximum possible efficiency. [3-10] 1.3 types AND GENERATIONS of solar cells Solar cells can be of many types as we know them. Todays modern technology has allowed us to be able to study each in detail and help with improving energy output and increasing efficiency. There are three types of solar cell- Amorphous cells, Polycrystalline Monocrystalline. Amorphous, also known as the thin-film solar cells are more commonly seen in devices like toys, calculators etc. Monocrystalline solar cells are cut from one silicon ingot which is got from a single large silicon crystal. Polycrystalline cells are cut from an ingot derived from many smaller crystals. Mono cells are made by growing an ingot of the silicon crystal from a smaller crystal, hence the name mono-crystalline or single-crystal. This ingot is then trimmed and sliced into wafers. In case of polycrystalline cells, molten silicon is poured into a square mould allowing it to set. Now silicon cools and sets at different rates, that is, the inside cools slower than the outer part and there is no seed crystal to grow the new material. This uneven cooling itself creates multiple crystals within the block thus giving it the name of poly-crystalline or multi-crystalline. Due to its multifaceted surface, this type of solar cell is a better performer even in dim light conditions giving greater wattage even from a small surface area. Amorphous cells are made by depositing a thin sheet of silicon over a surface like steel. The panel we get is a single piece and individual cells are not visible. These cells do not have a high efficiency and thus give a lesser investment for our investment. Apart from this solar cells can be divided into three generations, being: 1st generation 2nd generation 3rd generation First-generation cells are based on expensive silicon wafers and makeup 85% of the current commercial market. Second-generation cells are based on thin films compounds such as amorphous silicon, or copper indium selenide. The materials are relatively cheap, but research is needed to raise the efficiency of these cells if the cost of delivered power is to be reduced. Third-generation cells have shown a dramatic increase in efficiency that maintains the cost advantage of 2nd generation materials. Their design may make use of carrier multiplication, hot electron extraction, multiple junctions, sunlight concentration, or new materials.[11] First generation solar cells: These are the dominant type of cells available in the commercial market. A crystalline silicon wafer is used for the production of these cells. They tend to have a large surface area and a single layer p-n junction diode. Being so widely used, these cells have their own advantages and disadvantages. On the pros side, these cells have a broad spectral absorption rate and also have high carrier mobility. But these cells require expensive manufacturing technologies and also growing ingots is a very intensive process. Another disadvantage we can usually observe in these cells is that it is relatively easy for an electron to encounter a hole and thus that leads to recombination instead of electricity production. Most of the energy from a high energy photon is usually lost as heat.[12] Second generation solar cells: Second generation solar cells are mounted on glass substrates. The production costs that were plaguing first generation solar cells find some relief with the second generation. There are many companies who desire to release second-generation thin-film solar cells to the public. The material used in second generation solar cells are normally; amorphous silicon, micro-crystalline silicon, cadmium telluride (CadTel) and copper indium selenide/sulfide[14]. We see a potential for cost advantages in this generation over crystalline silicon because of various reasons. There is a lower material use along with fewer and simpler manufacturing steps. These cells also have the perfect band gap for solar energy conversion.[13][14] Third generation solar cells: The third generation cells are very different from the previously discussed cells. They do not rely on a p-n junction to separate photo-generated charge carriers but are based on a silicon substrate with a coating of nanocrystals. The third generation is the future of solar cells and the cheapest of them all. They are exactly what the sun-powered industry needs for renewable and efficient power sources. As solar cell technology continues to grow, our solar conversion efficiency will continue to rise and production expenditure will continue to drop. The third generation solar cells focus on reducing manufacturing cost and enhancing the performance of 2nd generation solar cell technology. Nanotechnology is one area that is being researched upon by this new generation of cells. Nanotechnology is being used to improve the basic solar cell to have improved electrical performance which also makes it more cost efficient. [15,16] 1.4 POLYMER SOLAR CELL AND ITS DEVELOPMENT One of the unique 3rd generation solar cells we know today is the polymeric solar cell. usually consist of an electron- or hole-blocking layer on top of an indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive glass followed by electron donor and an electron acceptor (in the case of bulk heterojunction solar cells), a hole or electron blocking layer, and metal electrode on top. During the last 30 years the polymer solar cell has developed from an inefficient light-harvesting device with almost no lifetime to a device that may be introduced to the commercial market within a short span of years. Today scientists are working with a lot of di ¬Ã¢â€š ¬erent types of polymer solar cells and since it will be too comprehensive to deal with all of them, only one type will be treated in this report. The type of solar cell which will be treated is a polymer/fullerene bulk hetero-junction solar cell This type of polymer solar cell consist of 6 layers: Glass, ITO, PEDOT:PSS, active layer, calcium and aluminum. The glass serves as a supporting layer for the solar cell and the only demand glass has to ful ¬Ã‚ ll is that it does not absorb light in the visible area, since the solar cell uses this light to generate power. Other and more  ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡exible types of supporting layers, like transparent polymers, can also be used. The focus of this report will not lie on the supporting layer and therefore the use of other types of supporting layers will not be discussed any further.[18] ITO (indium tin oxide) and aluminum serves as the electrodes in the solar cell. Beyond that, the ITO and Aluminium are also used to generate a built-in electric held caused by the difference in the metals work functions. This electric field is used dissociate the excitons, which are generated when the active layer absorbs light, and afterwards to pull the charge carriers out from the active layer. Like glass the ITO layer is transparent in the visible area. PEDOT:PSS (poly[3,4-(ethylenedioxy)-thiophene]:poly(styrene sulfonate)) and calcium are two materials which are introduced into the solar cell in order to increase the built-in electric  ¬Ã‚ eld and thereby improve the performance of the solar cell. The active layer in this polymer solar cell consists of a blend between the conjugated polymer MEH-PPV ((poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)- 1,4-phenylenevinylene])) and the modi ¬Ã‚ ed fullerene PCBM (1-(3-Methoxycarbonylpropyl)-1-phenyl-[6.6]C61). MEH-PPV is the absorbing part of the active layer and PCBM is introduced into the layer to make the dissociation of the excitons more e ¬Ã¢â€š ¬ective. In bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells, light generates excitons with subsequent separation of charges in the interface between an electron donor and acceptor blend within the devices active layer. These charges then transport to the devices electrodes where these charges flow outside the cell, perform work and then re-enter the device on the opposite side. The cells efficiency is limited by several factors especially non-geminate recombination. Hole mobility leads to faster conduction across the active layer.[29][30] By simply blending polymers (electron donors) with fullerene (electron acceptor) in organic solvents, a self assembling interpenetrating network can be obtained using various coating technologies ranging from laboratory-scale spin coating or spray coating to large-scale fabrication technologies such as inkjet printing[20,21], doctor blading [17] , gravure[23] , slot-die coating[24] and  ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡exographic printing[25] . In the last few years, several effective methods have been developed to optimize the interpenetrating network formed by the electron donor and acceptor, including solvent annealing (or slow-growth)[ 25] , thermal annealing[ 26-28] and morphology control using mixed solvent mixtures[ 29] or additives [30] in the solutions of donor/acceptor blends. Poly (3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT) in particular has been subject to increasing interest in the polymer research community, but signi ¬Ã‚ cant progress has also been made in developing new active-layer polymer materials [19,30-37] . Since around 2008, the efficiency of PSCs has risen to 6% using new conjugated polymers as electron donors [34]. Although progress has been impressive, there is still much to do before the realization of practical applications of PSCs. Many factors need to be taken into account in efficiently converting sunlight into electricity. Figure 2: Shows the energy levels in a polymer solar cell. ITO(indium tin oxide) is used as the high work function electrode and Al is used as the low work function electrode. (a) displays the energy levels before the polymer solar cell is assembled. (b and c) shows the energy levels after assembling. In (b) the polymer is an isolator and therefore the electric field changes linearly through the cell. The polymer used in (c) is a hole conducting polymer and therefore a Schottky junction will be formed between the polymer and the low work function electrode. The absorption range, the photon-electron conversion rate and the carrier mobilities of the light-harvesting polymers are among the crucial parameters for achieving high-efficiency solar cells. Furthermore, fabricating large area devices without signi ¬Ã‚ cantly losing efficiency while maintaining long lifetime of the device remains challenging.[38] [39] Therefore, a major challenge lies in fabricating polymer solar cells, in which free-charge-carrier generation is a critical step. Fortunately, it has been found that efficient charge transfer can take place between materials, that is, donor and acceptor molecules, with suitable energy level offsets. The strong electric field at the molecular interface of two materials with different electrochemical potentials is capable of separating the excitons into weakly bounded Coulombic pairs, and thereafter separated charge carriers. In cases where the donor and acceptor molecules form an intimate contact in blend films, efficient charge transfer takes place with an efficiency approaching 100%. The short exciton diffusion length which is much smaller than the necessary film thickness for effective optical absorption, has limited the external quantum efficiency (EQE) and hampers the efficient utilization of the photogenerated excitons in organic photovoltaics. A major breakthrough was achieved with the bulk heterojunction (BHJ) concept, where the nanoscale phase separation creates donor/acceptor interfaces for exciton dissociation via efficient charge transfer from donor to acceptor throughout the film. The concepts of donor/acceptor and BHJs, thus, establish the cornerstones of polymer solar cells. Diagram of a polymer-fullerene bulk heterojunction. The bulk-heterojunction concept. After absorption of light by the photoactive material, charge transfer can easily occur due to the nano-scopic mixing of the donor and acceptor (solid and dashed area). Subsequently, the photo generated charges are transported and collected at the electrodes. Here highest occupied molecular orbital is abbreviated as HOMO and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital as LUMO. Despite the high attainable EQE, overall power conversion efficiencies (PCE) reported are still low, due to the inferior charge-transport properties and limited spectral absorption range of the polymer active layer. On one hand, endeavors in synthesis and development of novel low-band-gap polymers are being carried out to harvest the major part of the solar spectrum. [40-46] On the other hand, film-growth dynamics of polymer blends via solution processes has become one of the central topics to derive maximal efficiency from bulk-heterojunction structures. Meanwhile, precise efficiency measurements provide solutions to the spectral mismatch between the solar spectrum and polymer absorption, offering accurate evaluation of novel photoactive materials. High internal quantum efficiencies can be expected, provided that efficient donor-to-acceptor charge transfer and transport in the bulk heterojunctions occurs. A suitable energy-level alignment between the donor and acceptor to provide the driving force morphology plays a decisive role linking the optoelectronic properties and device performance to the fabrication processes. In addition to experimental results, simulation techniques have also been applied to predict the optimal morphology, yielding results that are consistent with the experimental conclusion that a nanoscale phase separation with a bi-continuous pathway toward the electrode is desired. Fabrication parameters such as solvent selection and annealing treatment are the most critical factors in film morphology. However, additive incorporation also showed significant benefits toward improving device performance. The overall effects of morphology manipulation assist in forming an interpenetrating network of donor and acceptor molecules, facilitating both charge transfer and carrier transport. Lateral phase separation has been observed and well-understood in several systems. Beyond that, the ingredient distribution of the donor and acceptor molecules along the cross-section of blend films, that is, vertical phase separation has been observed recently in the nanoscale film morphology, which intuitively governs the charge transport and collection. Thus, an ideal morphology consists of phase separation laterally and vertically, which should both be optimized for satisfying device performance.[47,50-52] A variety of post-treatment methods can alter the optoelectronic properties of the polymer-blend films. Annealing processes in polymer solar cells can be divided into two categories: thermal annealing [53,57,58] and solvent annealing.[48,59-61] Both techniques concentrate on improving the nano scale lateral phase separation of both the crystalline P3HT aggregates and PCBM domains. Thermal annealing can be applied either on the final device (post-annealing) or on the polymer film only (pre-annealing). The annealing temperature and time are the two most critical parameters in this approach. However, the selection of solvent as well as metal electrodes could also affect the ultimate device performance. Solution processing has many advantages over other film fabrication technologies, which usually require complicated instruments as well as costly and time-consuming procedures. Therefore, solution processing has developed into the most favored methodology for fabricating organic optoelectronic devices. Solution processing also allows the freedom to control phase separation and molecular self-organization during solvent evaporation and/or film treatment. The solvent establishes the film evolution environment, and thus has foreseeable impact on the final film morphology. Selection and combination of solvents have been shown to be critical for the morphology in polymer-blend films, and are well-documented in the literature. [48,49]. Spin-coating from single-solvent solutions results in thin films, which possess optoelectronic properties determined by the solution parameters and the spin-coating process, for example concentration, blending ratio, spin speed and time, etc. Meanwhile, solv ent properties, such as boiling point, vapor pressure, solubility, and polarity, also have considerable impact on the final film morphology. [62-75] 1.5 Work function of solar cells 1.5.1 Work function of material The work function is the minimum energy needed to move an electron from the Fermi energy level, EF, to vacuum energy, Evac.   The work function varies by using different materials and also by doping. It is lower for n-type semiconductor than for p-type because Fermi levels within the band gap of a semiconductor depends upon doping. Where are work functions of the n-type and p-type materials respectively. Junctions having different work functions give way to an electrostatic field. 1.5.2 Metal-semiconductor junction Metal-semiconductor junction is the simplest type of charge separating junction. If we have an n-type semiconductor of work function metal of work function, such that, it is called a Schottky barrier. When metal and semiconductor are separate from each other, the Fermi levels will look like in fig. 5(a). But when they are in contact (electronic), these levels will line up. The exchange of charge carriers across the junction results in this, with the consequence that the layers approach the equilibrium (thermal). The energy at the conduction band edge at the interface between semiconductor and metal is higher than in the bulk of the semiconductor. The electrostatic potential energy is shown in fig. 5(b) by the change in Evac. The space charge region or depletion region is the region where there is a net charge. As Evac changes, so must the conduction and valence band energies, and that too by the same amount (proportionality). This happens because the electron affinity and band gap are invariant in the semiconductor, and is called band bending.[76] 1.5.3 p-n heterojunction A heterojunction consists of two different materials with different band gaps and these can also be either p-n or p-i-n junctions. Devices based on heterojunctions can improve carrier collection and thus efficiency. Due to change in the band gap, a discontinuity exists in the conduction and valence band at the junction. The potential step will affect the effective fields for the two carrier types in different ways. Usually, one carrier type is assisted by the field change, while the other is opposed. In fig. 6(b), the field that drives electrons to the n side is increased, while the field driving holes towards the p side is decreased. [76] We know that the standard form of an organic photovoltaic cell is based upon sandwiching a thin semiconducting organic layer(s) between two conducting layers having different work functions here we have higher work function conductors typically made of gold or ITO and lower work function conductors typically made of aluminum or calcium.   We have already discussed in section 1.2 how the efficiency of solar cell can be improved, here we will consider mathematical expression of efficiency. Efficiency is defined as measures the amount of energy converted to electric current relative to the total energy incident upon the cell, it is designated with Greek letter , ÃŽÂ ·. The formula for calculating efficiency is: ÃŽÂ · = Jsc X Voc X FF, where Jsc is the short-circuit current (when there is maximum current flowing and no voltage difference across the circuit),  Voc is the open-circuit voltage (when there is no current flowing), and FF is the fill-factor (the actual power relative to the theoretical power produced by the cell). To increase the efficiency of Polymer Solar cells, we need to improve these 3 factors. Jsc is primarily affected by band-gap, carrier mobility, and film formation properties of the active layer. Voc is primarily affected by the material band-gap and the device structure. FF, is particularly difficult to predict and design, but seems related to the relative motilities of the electrons and holes.[77-80] 1.6 Inverted Polymer Solar Cells The regular device structure for polymer solar cells is indium tin oxide (ITO), where a p-type layer is used for anode contact, and a low-work-function metal as the cathode. Both the p-type layer and the low-work-function metal cathode are known to degrade the device lifetime. [106-108] The p-type layer is potentially detrimental to the polymer active layer due to its acidic nature, which etches the ITO and causes interface instability through indium diffusion into the polymer active layer. Low work- function metals, such as calcium and lithium, are easily oxidized, increasing the series resistance at the metal/BHJ interface and degrading device performance. In principle, ITO is capable of collecting either holes or electrons, since its work function (4.5 to 4.7 eV) lies between the typical highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) values of common organic photovoltaic materials. The polarity of the ITO electrode depends mainly on the contact

Cause and Effect Essay - The True Cause of School Shootings

Most of us learned when we were very young that we should not judge by appearances. But, in the aftermath of massacres in schools everywhere, a sane person has to take seriously what the material world shows - and pass judgment. After all, a lack of judgment and subsequent action may lead to further youth violence. This event has been thoroughly dissected by a whole herd of politicians and pundits over a period of some months. But they have, unfortunately, failed to reach the heart of the matter. For the heart of the matter is theological, a category that does not often appear in American public discourse. Instead, we hear talk about psychology, community, exclusion - the narrow, modern litany of cause and effect. David Mandel, a psychologist who has studied the Goth subculture - one of the causes being invoked - wrote last year, "It is not sinister, but tongue in cheek." And he continued: "People who are really into it use it to construct meaning in their lives. . . . They really find beauty in the dark things much the way others find beauty in bright, happy things" (Mandel...

In The Heart of Darkness Essay

In The Heart of Darkness, Marlow learns firsthand the consequences, cruelty, commerce, and corruption of color consciousness in European colonialism. The mercantilism and capitalism which were gaining currency in Europe officially spread throughout the world by the colonialism. This focus on wealth acquisition drives the Europeans to loot African territories of the precious ivory, ignites the vicious cycle of violence and cruelty, dehumanizes the Natives of Africa, and takes modern racism to a whole new level under the pretext of civilizing and pacifying the African peoples. Marlow, who is the protagonist in this book along with Kurtz, bears testimony of his voyage to Africa that: â€Å"I have seen the devil of violence, and the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire† (Conrad 34). These explanation sums up what Marlow encounters in Africa and gives a hint as to crimes of colonialism which existed in the name of trade and conquest. The Heart of Darkness explores the darkest motivations of colonialism and highlights its pillaging agenda by commercialization of a culture, the denuding and exploitation of great wealth. In the Scramble for Africa, European countries unanimously agreed on sacking and claiming portions of it. The agreement legitimized the groups of pirates posed as traders to exchange with and enslave the native peoples in a second round of Neo-Slavery. The significance of the title, Heart of Darkness, flows in tandem with the love of money which is the root of all evil. This imperialist greed is what exposes â€Å"the criminality of inefficiency and pure selfishness when tackling the civilizing work of Africa† (Hawkins 286). The heart is wholly given over to the selfish pursuit of wealth and encumbers the masses by enslavement and deception. Kurtz is the embodiment of European colonialism â€Å"for mostly his expeditions had been for ivory† (Conrad 92). The price of ivory is invaluable. As testament to the presence of the extraction of Ivory in colonial times, we have the Ivory Coast. The natives would hunt the elephant for the ivory and then would trade it for shells, strings, rum etc with the European ‘explorers.’ Just as Kurtz’ life revolves around the hunt and gain for ivory (wealth), the central purpose of the Scramble for Africa which instigated the European colonialism is commerce, which was only exploitation of an ignorant people. Kurtz is introduced to Marlow as a man â€Å"grubbing for ivory† (Conrad 72). Marlow/Conrad uses a skilful literary technique in dehumanizing the Europeans for only animals grub for food. Ivory becomes not only the food which feeds their insatiable desires for self-aggrandizement, but also holds an enshrined position as a god, to whom their veneration ascends. As a newcomer on the expedition, Marlow heard â€Å"the word ivory rang in the air, was whispered and sighed. You would think they were praying to it. A taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all† (Conrad 44). These men sell their souls for a natural resource in the name of commercialization and prosperity. Under the aegis of a company, plans were made to undermine the rights of the people and to acquire more territory. Marlow frequently alludes to â€Å"the Company† for whom he works. It is the East Indian Company which established trading posts and for whom Marlow, Kurtz, and several other British men render service. Conrad states that â€Å"the Company had the right to every bit of information about its territories† (Conrad175). Here is a bold statement which demonstrates the company authorizing decrees, setting up surveillance, annexing territory, and claiming rights to ownership and governance. The embryonic signs are already being made manifest that Neo-colonialism is going to rear its head to prominence. As if to emphasize the financial nature of their purpose and intercourse with the people, Conrad underlines that the team of the Company were like those of El Dorado, â€Å"hunters for gold or pursuers of fame† (Conrad 17). Conrad makes a pertinent connection with the conquistadores and Spanish explorers of the ‘New World’ who searched and hunted for gold due to the mythological tale of hidden treasures in the jungles. The motives and the techniques have not changed. The goal of the men to Africa is specifically to conduct trade although there is full-blown cartography going on along the book similar to the early Spanish explorers. Describing the manager of one of the Company’s stations, Marlow describes him as one whose â€Å"eyes glittered like mica discs† (Conrad 45). This comparison of his eyes to mica tells of his mercenary vision and objective. Mica is a silvery precious stone which gleams like diamond-like crystals which a hexagonal shape. It was considered a jewel since it was rarefied in Europe thus highly costly. The cruelty of European colonialism is plain to the sight in Heart of Darkness, and is a by-product of a darkened heart. The presence of rifles, guns, and bayonets of the Europeans versus the spears, bows, arrows, and clubs of the Native makes this novel very bloody, dehumanizing, violent, and brutal. The paragon of cruelty is of course, Kurtz who embodies the Machiavellian ethic of colonizers who do whatever is necessary to achieve their own ends. As Marlow enters Kurtz’ dwelling, Marlow is greeted by the heads which stand on stakes and adorn his home like medals (Conrad 94). What barbarous man would have dead cadavers of beheaded victims constantly surrounding him! The reeking of death in Heart of Darkness is â€Å"the scent of the lies’ taint as it emanates from the symbolic corpses and metaphoric decay that litters the course of the story† (Steward 319). Moral decay and decadence are what corrupts Kurtz and which becomes materialized in the cadavers around which he surrounds himself. Whatever the colonizers could not obtain by deception, they take by force. Cruelty comes naturally to Kurtz to the point that it overtakes him. Even Kurtz threatens to kill Marlow on one occasion in demand for some of the latter’s ivory. Often intertribal war would erupt because of hunting conflict and robberies-it was a bloody, cruel affair. Marlow depicts the hunting as â€Å"just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale† (Conrad 69). In one instance Marlow witness to the merciless beating of an African by one of the European traders as punishment (Conrad 23). Cruelty is a tactic employed to subject and to intimidate people. A startling case of this is the beating of the African which Marlow records earlier in the book. The castigation occurs in front of several of his own people who stand around doing nothing to help the beaten victim. Marlow sees the strong Africans around him and knows that they can overpower the white men, however, the mind is already enslaved and terrorized therefore the Europeans have free rein over Africa. Whipping is a punitive method which recalls the times of slavery where slaves had to be lashed as incentive to toil harder or as an example of warning to others. Sometimes cruelty is the means and sometimes it is the end. Violence breeds violence. As the Europeans continue to assume rights and invade territory, the people of Africa rise up in rebellion. A few men of their team are killed by the African artillery. Marlow attests to the ammunition where he observes â€Å"a heavy rifle, and a light revolver carbine – the thunderbolts of that pitiable Jupiter† (Conrad 98). Moreover, Africans negotiated the ivory trade provided that they could acquire the high caliber weapons of the Europeans so that in their local wars, they could have a greater advantage. The proliferation of arms serves the Europeans’ purpose to divide and rule so that cruelty against the Africans advances the ruin of the Africans when they kill one another. The consequences of colonialism are too many to be enumerated; however the primary ones are dehumanization, exploitation, poverty, and the death of a culture. The European colonizers place a negative construction on Africans which Marlow himself has done. Although he only narrates the story based on his Eurocentric perspective, it is still colored with bias, prejudice, dehumanization, and condescension toward the Africans. Viewing a people as inferior justifies their slaughtering and the plundering of their goods. Marlow says that he sees â€Å"twenty cannibals splashing around and pushing† (Conrad 61) in a river. This epithet ‘cannibal’ represents the less than flattering aspect of the African upon which the European fixates thus debasing them and their culture as subhuman. Cannibalism existed in some areas of Africa; however, for all the time that Marlow remains in Africa he is not eaten. Calling Africans cannibals was a normal act however which was in vogue among the Europeans. The Africans are never considered human in the novel. They are named â€Å"black figures† (Conrad 48), â€Å"savages† (Conrad 98), barbarian â€Å"naked human beings† (Conrad 97), â€Å"nigger† (Conrad 23), â€Å"shadows† (Conrad 100). Matched up against animals, Marlow compares their sounds to â€Å"a violent babble of uncouth sounds† (Conrad 38). No African speaks intelligibly in the novel seeing that their foreign tongue has a cacophonous, guttural, and animalistic note. As a result the power of discourse solely belongs the white man. â€Å"Edward Said suggests that colonial power and discourse is possessed entirely by the colonizer† (JanMohamed 59). The dehumanization of the African serves to yoke them with The White Man’s Burden masterfully expounded by Rudyard Kipling. â€Å"Marlow feels that colonialism can be redeemed by embracing an idea unselfishly. That idea can be compared to Rudyard Kipling’s The White Man’s Burden† (Farn 16). Broaching more in depth the theme of European colonialism, Marlow comments that â€Å"all Europe contributed to the making of Kurtz†¦the International Society for the Suppression of the Savage† (Conrad 83). Here he admits Kurtz’ collusion with Britain and other members of Europe in oppressing African peoples. The beating of the Africans like little children or animals also contributes to the debasement of this people from whose lands they were benefitting. A savage is semi-human if he is at all, and since to the colonizers he has nothing to say, nor are they interested in deciphering his tongue, they take greater liberty at enchaining him in a web of incomprehensible deceit. Dehumanization is crucial in the process of colonialism for enslavement of the mind comes first and then the enslavement of the body and person. The colonized individual’s will must be broken, set at nought value and then the colonial is at liberty to dominate, exploit and commodify the human being. â€Å"The colonial legacy in Africanist ethnography can never be negated, but must be acknowledged under the sign of its erasure† (Apter 577). Commodification converts the ‘sacred into the profane’ (Marx 1848). The English explorers were the colonists of their day and once they constructed the Africans as inferior, or below their culture, dehumanization becomes easy and an almost natural step. The bitterest servitude was imposed and cruel aggressions executed and perpetrated against the Africans. Brutality, demonization and savagery are justified for the indigenous peoples are not fully human; consequently the Indians are wholly in their power through gratuitous cruelty and carnage. European colonizers profited from servility and subjugation. Through force, coercion and duress the European colonizers manipulate for ivory or exact ivory, while treating the natives like excrement. The role of color in European colonialism is easy to fathom in The Heart of Darkness. The depth of the color of darkness has several connotations which Marlow picks up along the way. First of all, the association of black has both positive and negative meanings. Blackness exemplifies richness, depth, and unity; on the other hand, black also is equated with evil, corruption, colonialism, and the devil. By the book’s name, one can see that there is a colored system which Marlow has to see for himself to believe. Views about the human nature and the human heart are also studied as one sees its enormous capacity to perform beastly, monstrous acts and these are the traits which color and taint his heart. Heart of Darkness conveys the â€Å"timeless myth about the exploration of the human soul and the metaphysical power of evil† (Raskin 113).Colonialism is all about color and thrives on, the color line, the division of the races. The European whites are distinguished about the African blacks; the color on the maps is a legendary key indicating the colonized areas of Africa. Marlow realizes that Kurtz’ heart is black as hell toward the end of the novel. The ignorance and primitiveness of the Africans are contrasted with men who lived in the light of civilization. Hence, the reader gains a broad and deep insight in understanding the color codes as Marlow himself comes to grasp, as he represents the vicarious witness through whose eyes, the reader observes the process of colonization in Africa. In sum, Conrad effectively critiques colonialism and places before the reader the darkened heart: the commerce, cruelty, corruption, and color consciousness in European colonialism in Heart of Darkness. These elements plunge both the colonist and the colonizer in an abyss of ruin where both become dehumanized, financially or morally bankrupt, and violent. The period of Neo-colonialism in Africa accomplishes great havoc in the name of progress, commercialization, and prosperity.

piano man essays

piano man essays For my final project, after a lot of research and decision making, I chose Piano Man by Billy Joel. I believe this self-titled record, Piano Man, is truly a magnificent piece of art work, and is a must in everybody's music collection. William Martin Joel was born in the Bronx on May 9, 1949, and was raised in Long Island, New York. At the age of four, Joel began taking piano lessons after his parents noticed his fascination in classical music. He joined his first band about 12 years later, and was known to frequently play the piano in nightclubs. Since then, Billy Joel has recorded 12 albums. Since the beginning of his career, he has received five Grammy's. He was also inducted into the Song Writers Hall of Fame in 1992. Piano Man was recorded in 1971, and was the first song and title track to Joel's break through album, which was released by Columbia Records in 1973. By November of 1986, the album went double platinum. Piano Man was written by Billy Joel, and recorded with essentially with the usage of a piano, harmonica, as well as vocals, which were of Joel himself. This is an electrifying melody that was inspired by Joels experience playing at the Executive Room, which was a piano bar in Los Angeles. The theme of the song is basically of regular customers shuffling through the piano bar on a routine basis, especially Saturday nights, while they enjoy the music and slowly get intoxicated, trying to escape life for a while. From the beginning of the song to the end, Joel seems to describe characters based on real characters that he encountered while working at the Executive Bar. For example, Paul the real estate novelist was about a real estate broker that was writing a book, and there is Davy who's still in the navy, and probably will be for life is a young man that is in the service. The song continues to describe various characters in the bar scene as Billy ...

Descriptions of Nine Roman Military Leaders

Descriptions of Nine Roman Military Leaders Agrippa: Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (56-12 B.C.) Agrippa was a renowned Roman general and close friend of Octavian (Augustus). Agrippa was consul first in 37 B.C. He was also governor of Syria.As general, Agrippa defeated the forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium. Upon his victory, Augustus awarded his niece Marcella to Agrippa for a wife. Then, in 21 B.C., Augustus married his own daughter Julia to Agrippa. By Julia, Agrippa had a daughter, Agrippina, and three sons, Gaius and Lucius Caesar and Agrippa Postumus (so named because Agrippa was dead by the time he was born). Ancient Roman NamesTable of the Consuls of Rome Brutus: Lucius Junius Brutus (6th C. B.C.) According to legend, Brutus led the revolt against Tarquinius Superbus, an Etruscan king of Rome, and proclaimed Rome a Republic in 509 B.C. Brutus is listed as one of the first two consuls of Republican Rome. He is not to be confused with Marcus Brutus, the first century B.C. statesman made famous by the Shakespearean line et tu Brute. There are other legends about Brutus including his having his own sons executed. Wars of the Roman Republic Camillus: Marcus Furius Camillus (fl. c. 396 B.C.) Marcus Furius Camillus led the Romans into battle when they defeated the Veientians, but was soon afterward sent into exile because of how he distributed the spoils. Camillus was later recalled to act as dictator and led the Romans (successfully) against the invading Gauls following the defeat at the Battle of the Allia. Tradition says Camillus, arriving at the time the Romans were weighing out their ransom for Brennus, defeated the Gauls. Veientine WarsBattle of the Allia Cincinnatus: Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus (fl. 458 B.C.) Another of the military leaders known mostly through legend, Cincinnatus was plowing his field, when he learned he had been appointed dictator. The Romans had appointed Cincinnatus dictator for six months so he could defend the Romans against the neighboring Aequi who had surrounded the Roman army and the consul Minucius in the Alban Hills. Cincinnatus rose to the occasion, defeated the Aequi, made them pass under the yoke to show their subjugation, gave up the title of dictator sixteen days after it had been granted, and promptly returned to his farm. Expansion of Rome in Italy Horatius: (late 6th C. B.C.) Horatius was a legendary heroic leader of the Roman forces against the Etruscans. He deliberately stood alone against the Etruscans on a bridge while the Romans were destroying the bridge from their side to keep the Etruscans from using it to get across the Tiber. In the end, when the bridge was destroyed, Horatius jumped into the river and swam armed to safety. Bridges Over the Tiber Marius: Gaius Marius (155-86 B.C.) Neither from the city of Rome, nor a pedigreed patrician, Arpinum-born Gaius Marius still managed to be consul 7 times, marry into the family of Julius Caesar, and reform the army.When serving as a legate in Africa, Marius so ingratiated himself with the troops they wrote to Rome to recommend Marius as consul, claiming he would quickly end the conflict with Jugurtha.When Marius needed more troops to defeat Jugurtha, he instituted new policies that changed the complexion of the army. Marius Scipio Africanus: Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major (235-183 B.C.) Scipio Africanus is the Roman commander who defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in the Second Punic War using tactics hed learned from the Carthaginian military leader. Since Scipios victory was in Africa, following his triumph he was allowed to take the agnomen Africanus. He later received the name Asiaticus when serving under his brother Lucius Cornelius Scipio against Antiochus III of Syria in the Seleucid War. Second Punic WarScipio Africanus Stilicho: Flavius Stilicho (died A.D. 408) A Vandal, Stilicho was a great military leader during the reigns of Theodosius I and Honorius. Theodosius made Stilicho magister equitum and then made him supreme commander of the western armies. Although Stilicho accomplished much in the fight against Goths and other invaders, Stilicho was eventually beheaded and other members of his family were also killed. Sulla: Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138-78 B.C.) Sulla was a Roman general who vied successfully with Marius for leadership of the command against Mithridates VI of Pontus. In the following civil war Sulla defeated the followers of Marius, had the soldiers of Marius killed, and had himself declared dictator for life in 82 B.C. He had proscription lists drawn up. After he had made the changes he thought necessary to the government of Rome to bring it back in line with the old values Sulla stepped down in 79 B.C. and died a year later.

Business Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 6

Business Economics - Essay Example Britain’s main manufactured export products are fuels, chemicals, food and beverages, tobacco, and aerospace products among others. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Britain’s purchasing power parities (PPPs) has declined tremendously for the last few years (OECD, 2007). Accordingly Yahoo! Finance quoting UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS), asserts the economy has shrunk by 0.3 percent within the year, much lower than that of Unite Sates and the regional European average (Yahoo! Finance, 2009) [Figure:1]. However the weak Sterling-pound has nonetheless seen a rebounding of the manufacturing sector as exports grew cheaper yet analysts predict a depressed future as Britain’s GDP fell to 2.9 percent by November 2009 which was the heaviest since July 1985s 4.0 percent turndown when UK’s manufacturing sector was heavily deindustrialization (ONS, 2009). Davis (2002) attributes this deindustrialisation to the prevalent lethargy in growth, escalating labour costs, out-sourcing production to lower labour cost centres, globalisation and the impact of imports infiltration. According to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, the manufacturing industry accounted for just 16 percent of GDP output and only 13 percent in employment while the service industry controlled 83 percent of exports by 2003 (ONS, 2009). Although Britain is sixth world industrialised country, its manufacturing industry as in the US has been rapidly overtaken by the services industry. During the 1970s and 80s, the sector lost approximately 3.5 million jobs while the services industry created a similar number of jobs in the 1990s particularly in the financial sector the country’s largest employer [see Figure: 2]. The change in momentum from the manufacturing to services has been reflected in the geographical spread shifting from the northern regions to

Advertising plan for BMW 3-Series Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Advertising plan for BMW 3-Series - Essay Example BMW Group, one of the 10 largest automotive companies in the world today, started as a manufacturer of aircraft engines in World War I and began building a reputation for reliability and excellence on that undertaking. Initially known as Bayerische Flugzeug-Werke in 1916,the firm changed its name to Bavarian Motor Works in 1917 as it grew rapidly during the war years. In 1923, BMW put together its first motor vehicle, a motorcycle, followed by its first car in 1928, a version of Austin 7, which was built and commercially sold under license. There was no stopping the company since then. Today, the Group operates in 150 countries through 26 production-assembly plants, 35 subsidiary markets and 12 R&D networks. Its flagship products consist of three automotive brands - BMW, MINI and Rolls Royce. All three vehicles share the same configuration, which suggest luxury, premium class, top-of-the-line quality. This is precisely the corporate culture that animates BMW, which is expressed in it s mission statement: "to be the most successful premium manufacturer in the industry." BMW built a solid reputation on this operational strategy.With this kind of philosophy underpinning all BMW's activities, the company produces nothing but premium-class vehicles, which are limited to exclusive sedans and luxury limousines. The side objectives are to set the industry standards for technology, environmental protection and safety, and providing outstanding customer services in the pre- and after-sale phases. These are enshrined in the firm's operations in its 10 R&D facilities worldwide (4 in Munich, 3 in the US and 1 each in Austria, Tokyo and Beijing), 15 production plants (1 in Berlin, 1 in Munich, 4 in UK, and 1 each in China, South Africa, US, Austria and Brazil), 5 assembly plants with local participation (1 each in Indonesia, Russia, Egypt, Malaysia and Thailand), and sales and marketing subsidiaries in 35 countries. In 2005, the company invested 2,597 million euros to boost its property, plant, equipment and other tangible assets, with emphasis on further expanding its production and sales networks. The amount was 81 percent higher than the 1,396 million euros sunk in the firm in 2004 as capital expenditures. A lion's share of this investment went to the company's R&D network, which has been tasked to come up with the BMW "cars of the future." This is part of an expansion plan that has preoccupied management from the start. In 1994, BMW acquired the Rover Group from British Aerospace in the hope that it could duplicate its earlier success with MINI, which used to be a British-owned firm too. For at least six years, some 1 million Rover vehicles were produced in UK yearly until the company suffered losses reaching $2 million per day as a result of the perceived lack of consumer confidence in the brand and the strengthening of the pound. BMW was then forced to sell Rover to the Ford group in 200 0. As for the MINI, BMW hang on to the more successful brand, which is manufactured in its Oxford plant. Market demand for the MINI has never let up, such that at the time BMW was selling Rover, it was pouring in another 50 million euros to increase MINI production. BMW fosters the core values of technology, quality, performance and exclusivity, such that its activities from R&D to sales are committed to achieving the highest quality for products and services. The overall strategy of the company is first, identify areas with growth potential, understand what they represent, recognize where its strength lies, then make the best of every opportunity by pursuing a clear strategy. These considerations guide BMW's structure and how decisions are made, and from the evidence it works like a charm.