Discuss the significance of the chapter titles of the novel in regard to theme in Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club

In Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club, as in most other existing novels, the titles of each chapter holds a distinct significance in regard to the content of that chapter. It could be argued that Amy Tan selects the words for her titles carefully in order to attain the highest level of analogical, and metaphoric purpose from them. An analysis of each of the chapter titles in regard to the main ideas and messages Amy Tan is putting across highlights the purpose of each of them, and displays the metaphoric and analogical concepts that each hold. The title of the first chapter is a repetition of the title of the book. Amy Tan probably does this deliberately so as to focus the reader. The title itself, The Joy Luck Club, directly refers to the name of a club formed by all the four mothers in the book. At this club, all the mothers who are the co-main characters in the book are members. Around the Mah Jong table, the four women gossip and gamble. This is the most likely cause of the name, The Joy Luck Club, in the way that it was fun and enjoyable talking and telling tales, but one also needed luck in order to win the games of Mah Jong. The Joy Luck Club is founded by the women immigrants, so as to keep a part of Chinese tradition alive in the new world they were in. This is backed up partially by the quote in the book, â€Å"My mother started the San Francisco version of the Joy Luck Club in 1949† (6). The chapter is mainly focusing on the human needs to be surrounded with feelings of familiarity; the reason the club wa s founded in America. Scar is the title of the second chapter. As a representation of the sequences in the chapter, the title gives us a good basis as of what to expect in the chapter. For example, a scar is the result from someone receiving a deep wound. This is the case as the plot in this part of the book is about a little girl who gets burnt, has a mother who left her, and whom she eventually sees again. The title also holds an analogy. That is the analogy of the emotional healing process. Amy Tan uses this analogy in describing the pain inflicted upon the girl, by the mother, in relation to the pain inflicted on the girl by the hot soup. This analogical and metaphoric purpose Amy Tan intends with this can be directly drawn from the chapter itself In two years time, my scar became pale and shiny and I had no memory of my mother. That is the way the way it is with a wound. The wound begins to close in on itself, to protect what is hurting so much. And once it is closed, you no longer see what is underneath, what started the pain(40) This seems to be the way, in the human emotional and physical healing process, it takes time. Amy Tan uses the title, The Red Candle for her third chapter. In the plot of this part, a daughter of one family is being married to a man from another family. In the festivities, it is Chinese tradition to light a candle that has two ends. This represents the longevity of the marriage, and the commitment of the two involved. As the main plot in the chapter is the marriage the title reflects the content, and so is another good selection by Amy Tan. In regard to the theme of this chapter, the red candle, is representing the strength of the marriage, stated in the book, â€Å"That red candle was supposed to seal me to my husband and his family, no excuses afterward†(55). If the candle goes out the marriage is not strong, where as if it doesn't the marriage can never be broken, â€Å"‘This candle burned continuously at both ends without going out. This marriage can never be broken'†(54). As the burning candle represents the impermanence of a marriage, as there is no way a candle, in the situation as the one in the book, could burn to the end without going out, the girl who actually blows it out, along with the wind, and the servant who leaves the candle unattended all represent the intangible forces a marriage encounters. In all, the red candle has a very metaphoric purpose in this chapter, as a title, and theme. The Moon Lady is the title of the next chapter. The title comes directly from the name given to a particular demigod in the Chinese tradition. As the plot of this area focuses mainly on the Moon festival, celebrating the Moon Lady, and the little girls wish to the Moon Lady, it would appear that Amy Tan has chosen an appropriate title for this part. The main idea the author is trying to put across here is the reliance and desire for hope that human society has. Therefore beliefs that support the idea of hope, even in an irrational form, such as the idea of a moon lady, are popular. The idea of this is backed up in the book, â€Å"It is my earliest recollection: telling he moon lady my secret wish.†(65). The Moon Lady is symbolic of hope. In the next chapter, the title is relatively straight forward in its relation to the Content. The Rules of the Game, is referring to the rules of chess, the game that the young child is playing. This chapter is also showing the learning that is coherent in life, that the girl is experiencing. So this chapter title was selected for that purpose, showing the rules the girl is learning. The author uses the word rules, as a metaphor for life's experiences, and how to deal with them. In human society, there are many different situations which require a certain way to act, that is not written, or spoken, but expected, and needed in order to survive. In Chinese society however, there are many ways to approach situations that are spoken about. These are the rules. The game is a metaphor for life. So Amy Tan uses the title in a very blatant and a very subtle metaphoric way. In chapter six, the title The voice from the wall is given. In the physical sense, the voice from the wall is the voices of the mother and child fighting next door, to the girl in the story. In a metaphoric sense, the title is given as to represent a different side of thought. For instance, in the story, the girl misinterprets what she is hearing from next door as murder rather than just a fight occurring between a mother and child, â€Å"She didn't seem like a girl who had been killed a hundred times. I saw no traces of blood-stained clothes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (115). This title is hinting at the human side of us that limits our way of looking at things. It is suggesting that at times we perceive one thing when really it is another, grabbing the wrong end of the proverbial stick. The voice in the title is the other view of the situation, and the wall can be seen as the situation. Amy Tan here again uses her title to perform a discreet metaphoric purpose. The chapter title, Half and Half arises from the daughters realization of how fate is formed. She sees fate as being the result of two things, expectation and inattention, â€Å"And I think now that fate is shaped half by expectation, half by inattention†(140). This title is used to reflect the troubled marriage of the daughter in this story, and the loss of a little boy. The author is focusing on the area of human behavior that leads to events caused by our unlimited expectations and ignorance leading to inattention. The title has no sense of physically describing anything in the story, as in previous chapter titles. The next chapter is a story of a child, whose mother forces her to learn the piano, in the hope of her becoming a prodigy. This chapter is entitled Two Kinds. As a title it holds little significance physically until the end where the daughter finds two halves to a piece of music she once played, â€Å"And after I played them both a few times, I realized they were two halves of the same song†(155). In relation to theme, the title holds a strong relation to the main points of emotional duality that the author is touching on. The main idea, being, the two sides of a mind that see things from different perspectives. There is the side that always an endless capacity to desire, and the side that makes us grateful for what we already had. This is summed up in the book, â€Å"†Pleading Child† was shorter but slower; â€Å"Perfectly contented† was longer but faster†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ(155). This supports the idea of the daughter of the seeing the two sides of her life as a child, the way she saw it then, ‘Pleading Child', being pushed around and wanting more than she had, and the way she sees it now, ‘Perfectly Content', she realizes she had a good mother and a good life. The ninth chapter in The Joy Luck Club, is called Rice Husband. The title comes from a story the daughter was told by her mother. This was about the grains of rice she left in her bowl becoming the number of pockmarks on her future husbands face. The title relates to the main plot, as the story is set when the daughter has now married her husband, and is having her mother to stay with her for a while. The title has little other significance, other than the quality of the daughter husband reflecting the times she left rice in her bowl. The husband is not very nice, â€Å"I'm sitting on the sofa, seething, and I don't know why. It's not that Harold has done anything wrong. Harold is just Harold†(178). If a husband can annoy you with out even doing anything he must really not be a good husband. The pock marks in the fable meaning the impurities of your husband, of which the daughter's obviously has many. As with the last chapter the title Four Directions holds very little significance in an analogical or metaphoric sense. There seems to be no underlying or hidden reason for Amy Tan using the title, other than it is the name of the restaurant that the mother and daughter go to. Four Directions is the name of the place, â€Å"I said as we waited for the lunch bill at Four Directions†(184). The next chapter called Without Wood, is given to describe a characteristic, or lack of that the daughter has. The title has no physical relation to any of the events in the story here, but has the purpose of describing the type of person the women is. In the Chinese tradition, people contain certain elements, such as metal, water, fire and wood, to name just a few. Each of these holds a certain key to some ones character, and each need to be balanced with on another. In the story, the woman has a very indecisive side, and relies on others to make important decisions in her life, this is supported in the book, â€Å"I sat there quietly, trying to listen to my heart, to make the right decision. But then I realized I didn't know what the choices where†(213). This, in Chinese tradition is due to the fact that she has not got enough wood in her. This is the reason Amy Tan has used the title she has, taking something from her culture and introducing it to the reader. This is at fir st difficult to see but after recalling earlier parts of the book the title makes sense. In regard to theme, the title again is just pointing out what the author is trying to convey, and that is the varying characteristics that separate us as human beings in to individuals. The Best Quality, the name of the twelfth part of the book, is given for to reasons. As a title it touches the theme in a sense that mothers always want the best for their offspring, which is no different to the mother in this story. The best quality meaning the best quality of life that a mother can give her children. The title is also given in relation to the events held in the story. In the plot the mother is holding a diner where crab will be served and whilst picking the crabs, she picks one which is missing a leg, which is served at dinner. At the diner, the mother and daughter are last to pick, so the daughter goes to pick the crab with the missing leg, but her mother insists she takes the good one, â€Å"I thought I was doing the right thing, taking the crab with the missing leg. But my mother cried, â€Å"No! No! Big one, you eat it. I cannot finish†Ã¢â‚¬ (227). Hence, the mother always wants the best for her child. The next title named Magpies, has very little relation to the theme in this area of the book. It rather holds as a direct reference to a story within the story. A story of birds mocking peasants, who revolted and killed the birds, is told, The birds became more exhausted, unable to land, unable to eat. And this continued for many hours, for many days, until all those birds-hundreds, thousands, and then millions!-fluttered to the ground, dead and still, until not one bird remained in the sky(273) So again in this chapter the title holds no significance in regard to the theme in this story. Waiting Between the Trees, the title given to the fourteenth part, is significant in terms of the theme here. This part of the book is describing a mother's actions in her life, and using the analogy of a tiger to make us further understand the authors main points. In this chapter Amy Tan is commenting again on the duality of the human mind. She is saying that there is a part of humans that makes itself visible and conspicuous in its actions and another part that is more hidden and subtle in its actions. This is explained in the tiger analogy the author uses. Then she told me why a tiger is gold and black. It has two ways. The gold side leaps with its fierce heart. The black side stands still with cunning, hiding its gold between trees, seeing and not being seen, waiting patiently for things to comes(282) This is another example of Amy Tan's creativeness in her titles, subtle but very meaningful. The next chapter entitled, Double face. This is in reference to the part of this story where the mother and daughter are comparing their faces and seeing how much they look like each other. Double faced means a person who has two ways of acting, which are done in different situations. This is the main them in this part. Amy Tan, again, is commenting on the twin sidedness of human behavior. How we are nice to some one to them, and nasty to them when they are not around. This is explained in the book, â€Å"It means we're looking one way, while following another. We're for one side and also the other. We mean what we say, but our intentions are different†(304). This is a trait of humanity, and a necessary one in some circumstances. So in regard to the theme, the title holds significance in the way that it is using a term that describes a characteristic of human conduct. The last chapter title, as with many in the second half of the book has little significance to the theme of the story. The name A Pair of Tickets, is really just a physical explanation of what to expect I the story, in which a daughter and her father fly to China from America. Two tickets, two people, and a logical choice for representation of the plot in the story, however not for any thematic reasons. This is also a good selection of title by Amy Tan, as it rounds the book off, as the first chapter is about the woman getting tickets to meet her family, the last is about her using the tickets. Overall, Amy Tan has used a wide variety of chapter headings, ranging from ones with deep analogical, metaphoric, and thematic meanings, others with simple physical pointers to events in the story. The selection and timing of the headings also leads to provoking a strong thought process of the reader as to the author's intentions with the names of her chapters. Amy Tan has written a clever, thought inciting book, which although at times is exceedingly boring, is still none the less an intelligently written piece of literature.

Motivation and Prentice Hall

Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 10/e Stephen P. Robbins & Timothy A. Judge Chapter 5 Motivation Concepts Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 5-1 After studying this chapter, you should be able to: 1. Describe the three key elements of motivation. 2. Identify four early theories of motivation and evaluate their applicability today. 3. Compare and contrast goal-setting theory and selfefficacy theory. 4. Demonstrate how organizational justice is a refinement of equity theory. 5. Apply the key tenets of expectancy theory to motivating employees. . Explain to what degree motivation theories are culture bound. Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 5-2 What Is Motivation? The processes that accounts for an individual’s intensity, direction, and persistence of effort toward attaining a organizational goal ? Intensity – the amount of effort put forth to meet the goal ? Direction – efforts are chann eled toward organizational goals ? Persistence – how long the effort is maintained Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 5-3 Early Theories of Motivation Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory †¢ McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y †¢ Herzberg’s Two-Factor (Motivation-Hygiene) Theory †¢ McClellan’s Theory of Needs (Three Needs Theory) Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 5-4 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory Self-Actualization Upper Esteem Social Safety Psychological 5-5 Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall Lower Douglas McGregor’s X & Y Theory X Theory Y †¢ Inherent dislike for work and will attempt to avoid it †¢ Must be coerced, controlled or threatened with punishment View work as being as natural as rest or play †¢ Will exercise self-direction and self-control if committed to objectives 5-6 Copyright  ©20 10 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory Not Dissatisfied Satisfied Motivation Factors †¢ Quality of supervision †¢ Pay †¢ Company policies †¢ Physical working conditions †¢ Relationships †¢ Job security Hygiene Factors †¢ Promotional opportunities †¢ Opportunities for personal growth †¢ Recognition †¢ Responsibility †¢ Achievement Dissatisfied Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall Not Satisfied 5-7 McClelland's Theory of Needs †¢ Need for Achievement (nAch) The drive to excel †¢ Need for Power (nPow) The need to make others behave in a way they would not have behaved otherwise †¢ Need for Affiliation (nAff) The desire for friendly and close interpersonal relationships Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 5-8 McClelland's High Achievers †¢ High achievers prefer jobs with: ? Personal responsibility ? Feedback ? Intermediate degree of risk (50/50) †¢ High achievers are not necessarily good managers High nPow and low nAff is related to managerial success Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 5-9 Contemporary Theories of Motivation †¢ Cognitive Evaluation Theory †¢ Goal-Setting Theory ? Management by Objectives †¢ Self-Efficacy Theory †¢ Equity Theory †¢ Expectancy Theory Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishi ng as Prentice Hall 5-10 Cognitive Evaluation Theory †¢ Proposes that the introduction of extrinsic rewards for work (pay) that was previously intrinsically rewarding tends to decrease overall motivation Verbal rewards increase intrinsic motivation, while tangible rewards undermine it Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 5-11 Goal-Setting Theory †¢ Goals increase performance when the goals are: ? Specific ? Difficult, but accepted by employees ? Accompanied by feedback (especially selfgenerated feedback) †¢ Contingencies in goal-setting theory: ? Goal Commitment – public goals better! ? Task Characteristics – simple & familiar better! ? National Culture – Western culture suits best! Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 5-12 Management by Objectives (MBO) †¢ Converts overall organizational objectives into specific objectives for work units and individuals †¢ Common ingredients: ? ? ? ? Goal specificity Explicit time period Performance feedback Participation in decision making 5-13 Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall Self-Efficacy or Social Learning Theory Individual’s belief that he or she is capable of performing a task Self-efficacy increased by: ? Enactive mastery – gain experience ? Vicarious modeling – see someone else do the task ? Verbal persuasion – someone convinces you that you have the skills ? Arousal – get energized Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 5-14 Equity Theory †¢ Employees weigh what they put into a job situation (input) against what they get from it (outcome). †¢ They compare their input-outcome ratio with the input-outcome ratio of relevant others. My Output My Input Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall Your Output Your Input 5-15 Equity Theory and Reactions to Inequitable Pay Employee reactions in comparison to equitably-paid employees Employees are: Paid by: Piece Time Will produce more Produce less output or output of poorer quality 5-16 Will produce Over-Rewarded fewer, but higherquality units Produce large Undernumber of low Rewarded quality units Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall Equity Theory: Forms of Justice Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 5-17 Expectancy Theory Three key relationships: 1. Effort-Performance: perceived probability that exerting effort leads to successful performance 2. Performance-Reward: the belief that successful performance leads to desired outcome 3. Rewards-Personal Goals: the attractiveness of organizational outcome (reward) to the individual Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 5-18 Global Implications Are motivation theories culture-bound? ? ? ? ? Most were developed for and by the United States Goal-setting and expectancy theories emphasize goal accomplishment and rational individual thought Maslow’s Hierarchy may change order McClelland's nAch presupposes acceptance of a moderate degree of risk concern for performance Equity theory closely tied to American pay practices Hertzberg’s two-factor theory does seem to work across cultures 5-19 ? Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall Implications for Managers †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Look beyond need theories Goal setting leads to higher productivity Organizational justice has support Expectancy theory is a powerful tool, but may not very realistic in some cases †¢ Goal-setting, organizati onal justice, and expectancy theories all provide practical suggestions for motivation Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 5-20 Keep in Mind†¦ †¢ Make goals specific and difficult †¢ Motivation can be increased by raising mployee confidence in their own abilities (self-efficacy) decisions, especially when the outcome is likely to be viewed negatively 5-21 †¢ Openly share information on allocation Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall Summary 1. Described the three key elements of motivation. 2. Identified four early theories of motivation and evaluated their applicability today. 3. Compared and contrasted goal-setting theory and self-efficacy theory. 4. Demonstrated how organizational justice is a refinement of equity theory. 5. Applied the key tenets of expectancy theory to motivating employees. 6. Explained to what degree motivation theories are culture bound. Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 5-22 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America. Copyright  ©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 5-23

Frida Is A 2002 Film By Julie Taymor - 1139 Words

Frida is a 2002 film by Julie Taymor that mirrors the life of esteemed artist Frida Kahlo. The first scene of the movie serves only to foreshadow the last scene of the movie, depicting Kahlo lying on bed, being loaded onto the back of a truck. The movie then flashes to the Kahlo’s younger days in 1922 when she was around fifteen years of age. She is shown in a school where she gathers friends to watch Diego Riviera work, this yet again portrays an important facet of Kahlo’s future. We then learn of Kahlo’s relationship with a boy named Alex, a both Physical and emotional relationship. A following scene shows Frida admiring the photos of a photographer who is shortly revealed to be her father. In true fashion Frida is then seen observing a mural on the walls of the school. Alex comes to get her before the two miss the bus, shortly after the film shows Alex and Frida catching up to a bus and jumping on. When the bus they are on passes another the two busses collid e and the bus holding Kahlo is propelled into the side of a stone building, breaking a multitude of her bones, and leaving her in a sleep state for three weeks. The doctors inform Frida and her family that she will most likely not walk again and it is a miracle she survived. When Kahlo is released from the hospital we get the first glimpse of Frida creating her own art, and see her heart being broken when Alex informs her he is leaving. Kahlo then begins to fill her cast with paintings of butterflies. When she isShow MoreRelatedFrida Film Analysis Essay1148 Words   |  5 PagesFrida and the Role of Women During the 1930’s and 1940’s, women of the world held virtually one role and one role only†¦homemaker. This was no different for the women of Mexico, except for one woman in particular, Frida Kahlo. Frida refused to accept the current ideals of society and the accepted social norms by engaging in things that few women in history ever had. Frida was involved in politics, she was promiscuous with men and women, she painted pictures of herself in ways that had never beenRead MoreFilm Analysis : Frida Kahlo1181 Words   |  5 Pages I don’t usually watch bright, colorful movies but I definitely would make an exception for Frida. The colors and the score used in the film always heightened a scene’s mood, whether it be joy or despair. The film utilized bright colors so often that their absence had a profound effect when Kalho dealt with loneliness and heartbreak. I’ve always thought Frida Kahlo as an extremely interesting person. In the movie, s he was interesting in her defiance of gender norms and zeal for life. She never letRead MoreFilm Analysis Of The Film Frida, By Julie Taymor963 Words   |  4 PagesDirector, Julie Taymor, released the film Frida on October 25th, 2002. The film is a true story of Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera, who have been and still are Mexico’s most acclaimed artists. The film was portrayed like Kahlo’s paintings, with vibrant colors that showed her creativity and pride for her Mexican background. Not only did the film contain a deep resonance of dark pain that represented the pain in Kahlo’s life, but also the recognition and acknowledgement of Kahlo’s strugglesRead MoreFrida, By Julie Taymor762 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"Frida† the movie was released in 2002 and directed by Julie Taymor. The cast included Salma Hayek as (Frida), Alfred Molina as (Diego Rivera), Ashley Judd, Antonio Banderas, Edward Norton, Mia Maestro, and Geoffrey Rush. The film is a biography of the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. She is a woman who came from a very simple background. Kahlo rose to fame as an artist with an unique vision for her craft. She endured a difficult relationship with her husband/mentor Diego Rivera. Many of herRead MoreThe Inspiration of Frida Kahlo Essay1343 Words   |  6 Pagesknowledge. Later another artist emerged with the same ability, Frida Kahlo. She used her life as her canvas; allowed people to view the world from behind the surrealistic doors. In addition, she was able to present self-portraits in many forms, all influenced by a tragic bus accident which led to a broken spine that affected her whole life. Described mostly in the film Frida directed by Julie Taymor, and the bo ok Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo written by Hayden Herrera, Kahlo’s portraits made viewersRead MoreThe Invisible Woman: Female Directors in Hollywood2710 Words   |  11 PagesFilm scholar Louis Gianetti says, â€Å"In the field of cinema, the achievement of the Women’s Movement [of the 1960’s] has been considerable, though most present-day feminists would insist that there is still much to be accomplished in the battle against patriarchal values† (428). Gianetti’s words are an understatement. Women in Hollywood are underrated, underrepresented, and generally shoved into the background of the film industry. However, with film becoming one of the most pervasive and influential

The Illusion of the “American Dream” - 1408 Words

The phrase â€Å"American Dream† has often been ascribed to the prosperity of the United States, but the explication of this expression lacks consistency amongst the citizens in this country. The diversity of opinions comprised in the American society causes significant variation to the interpretation of this term from person-to-person. An example of these discrepancies is depicted in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. In this play, Miller uses several different characters as a function to illustrate the widespread disparity of beliefs regarding the appropriate philosophy for the pursuit of happiness in America. Willy Loman (the central character in the play) is used to represent a highly capitalistic society. On the other hand, Willy’s son†¦show more content†¦Shipping clerk, salesman, business of one kind or another. And it’s a measly manner of existence†¦ And always having to have to get ahead of the next fella. And still—thatâ₠¬â„¢s how you build a future† (Miller 22). Biff’s statements in this excerpt illustrate how he tried to mimic the example set by his father, but discovered that his efforts gained him no satisfaction. In this passage, Biff also mentions his irritation about the lack of rest given to workers in America: â€Å"To suffer fifty weeks of the year for the sake of a two-week vacation† (Miller 22). It is well known that workers in socialist societies are given more time off a year, in order to rest and refresh their minds and bodies. Consequently, this statement serves to refute Willy’s beliefs, due to his readily apparent exhaustion from an excessive workload over his career. By including this passage early in the play, Miller demonstrates two opposing viewpoints pertaining to certain ideology’s present in the American society. As the narrative progresses, Biff’s beliefs begin to solidify, creating a further rift between himself and his father, w hile also displaying the rift between socialism and capitalism. The culmination of this tension reaches its apex when Biff and his father get into one final argument. Biff conveys his realization that he wants no part of the ruthless world of business: â€Å"Why am I trying to become something I don’t want to be?† (Miller 132). Biff’s statement is emblematic for not only

The Geography of the Hawaiian Islands - 1381 Words

Mark Twain once described the Hawaiian Islands as â€Å"The loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean†. Hawaii is the most unique of the states of America. To further understand the geography of Hawaii, one must understand how Hawaii was formed, how Hawaii was populated, and understand what Hawaii came to be today. To begin, Hawaii is the longest chain of islands in the world. It was originally formed by a fissure more than 1600 miles long that lies along the floor of the Pacific Ocean that produced the Hawaiian ridge. Along the ridge then formed individual dorms that formed what we know today as the Hawaiian Islands (Webmaster). It is now over 3,300 kilometers long, made up of longs strings of islands and reefs (US†¦show more content†¦There became an inevitable influence of American plantations, but Hawaii knew if they lost their independence, they would be annexed by the United States (US Department of State). As the number of American plantations grew, their dissatisfaction with the Hawaiian government grew (US Department of State). Then in 1887, they forced the king to agree to an elected government ruled by the planters. Finally in 1893, the king was overthrown and the new government requested to be annexed by the United States right away (US Department of State). At first they refused, but then they were finally accepted as a territory in 1898 (US Department of State). Then after Alaska was accepted as a state, Hawaii was then added to the list of states for America. Hawaii is now seen as a major tourism spot, with more than 4.5 million people visiting the state every year (US Department of State). Americans and other citizens from neighboring countries flock to Hawaii for spring break, honeymoons, and business trips. But because of the current struggling economy, the major income for the state is declining at a shocking rate. Hawaii just suffered one of the worst winters as far as hotel occupancies, linked to tourism (Ma rtin). The rates were the lowest the have been in five years, dropping 75%, the lowest since the Persian Gulf War in 1991 (Martin). These problems are being increasingly influenced by the unwelcoming feelings towards business travel, especially with the recent problems withShow MoreRelated Hawaii Essay666 Words   |  3 Pages Hawaii: Paradise Island Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the physical geography, history and culture of Hawaii. Central Idea: We will see that Hawaii is a special place, by looking at its physical geography, history, and culture. Introduction I.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;What comes to mind when you think of palm trees, beautiful beaches, luaus and hula dances? A.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Hawaii B.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The â€Å"Aloha† state.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Read MoreHawaii Weather: Peculiarities and Hazards Essay1311 Words   |  6 PagesAs a popular vacation destination, the Hawaiian islands are well known for their predictable and relatively mild weather year round. However, there are wide variations in the weather depending on the exact location in the island chain. Also, there are some unique hazards to aviation operations caused by Hawaii’s location and geography that one must become acquainted with before operating an aircraft in the 50th state. One can encounter trade winds and their associated weather, temperature inversionsRead MoreOutside Influence On The Hawaii1234 Words   |  5 Pagesindividuals come to take part in the temperate weather and beautiful beaches. However, Hawaii now is nothing like it use to be - the real history behind this popular chain of islands is rarely told to visitors. Back in early Hawaiian times, Hawaii was self-suf ficient, independent, and gorgeous all around. The number of Native Hawaiians flourished, and everyone helped contribute to the community. All that changed, however, when outsiders began to settle here in Hawaii. Although the different outside influencesRead MoreEssay on Hawaii737 Words   |  3 PagesHawaii Hawaii is a state that attracts tourists because of its history, geography, entertainment, and culture. It is well known for its volcanoes, beaches, and climate. For these reasons, tourism is the main thing Hawaii is known for. Hawaii was recordivly discovered on January 18, 1778, by 2 explorers, James Cook and Captain Clerke. They went to the shore of Kealakekua Bay, where they were greeted by cheering natives. Later, a native stole one of their boats, so Cook and some marinesRead MoreReggae Is Not Only A Type Of Music1560 Words   |  7 PagesFor indigenous communities throughout the world, reggae is not only a type of music, but a culture. One of the most worldwide forms of popular culture, reggae is able to be found in many communities, such as Native American, Aboriginal Australian, Hawaiian and Pacific. Reggae has a very well known and well defined associated culture. It must be kept in mind the appeal of the Rastafarian ‘lifestyle’ associated with the reggae genre. For many youth in indigenous communities, this lifestyle may be seenRead MoreA Community Characteristics Of The Hawaiian Culture912 Words   |  4 PagesNative Hawaiian. The assumption is that the Hawaiian culture involves more collectivistic families than individualistic families. Collectivist families have more group cohesion and collectivistic cultures make decisions based on the betterment of the group. The statistic that proves the previous statement is there ar e 1,673 households out of the total 8,383 with 7 or more people living in one household (Census Bureau, 2010). The languages spoken in Honolulu include Tagalog, English, Hawaiian, and PidginRead MoreWhat Is The Geography Of The Us824 Words   |  4 PagesUnited States Geography The United States is located in the center of the North America continent. It is the second largest country in the continent and the fourth largest in the whole world after Russia, Canada, and China. Its total area is 3.797 million square miles (9.834 million square kilometers). The Bodies of Water in the U.S. In the United States, there is a really large river system called the Mississippi/Missouri river system. The system has the longest river in the North America andRead More Geography Essay2204 Words   |  9 Pages Introduction and Climate The state of Hawaii is composed of 132 islands, reefs and shoals that extend for over 1500 miles across the central North Pacific Ocean from the quot;Big Islandquot; of Hawaii to midway and Kure Atolls. The eight main islands of Hawaiian Archipelago include Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Nihau and Kahoolawe (listed in order of size) which extend for only 350 miles at the south-eastern end of the volcanic mountain chain. Hawaii includes some of the earth’sRead MoreKilauea and Mt St Helens Comparison804 Words   |  4 PagesGeography study on the differences Between the volcanoes MT st Helens and Kilauea Kilauea is a volcano in the Hawaiian Islands it is one of the five shield volcanoes in the Hawaiian language Kilauea means spewing or spreading. Mt St. Helens is an active stratovolcano in Washington it is named after British diplomat lord st Helens. There are many differences between the volcanoes for example the explosivity of the two volcanoes most recent eruptions are completely different Kilauea is almostRead MoreThe Eruption Of Kilauea Volcano2185 Words   |  9 PagesAbstract The home of Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, Kilauea Volcano has been erupting for the last 30 years. Since January 3, 1983, the world has stopped to look at the lava flowing out of the crevices of the crater. However, despite the meaning of the name, Kilauea in Hawaiian (which translates to â€Å"spewing† or â€Å"much spreading†), many scientists are amazed that the volcano has a continuous flow (USGS 1,2,3). Nonetheless, as the East Rift Zone spreads, Kilauea has started overflowing; and the

Standards on Compliance and Reporting Costs †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Standards on Compliance and Reporting Costs. Answer: Introduction: In the AASB 136 in Para 9 it states, that an entity is required to assess the indications related to impairment of assets. The assessment is conducted by the entity at the end of each accounting period (Oulasvirta 2014, pp.272-285). If the indication of the impairment of assets exists then the entity is required to calculate the recoverable amount of the assets. The definition of impairment is provided in the Para 6 of the AASB 136. The assets that have carrying amount less than the market value in that case the assets is impaired and the impairment loss is recorded in the income statement. The Para 12 -14 of the AASB 136 provides indication related to the impairment of assets. There are certain situations that are described under the mentioned Para in which the assets impairment can be regarded as necessary (Du et al. 2017, pp.557-605). The indication that the impairment of assets exists are provided in the two major headings of information: Internal and External; External Sources of Information includes the following: The external source of information that indicates the existence of impairment of assets are given below: There has been a decline in the market value of the assets due to normal usage and the passage of time; There is sudden change in the market, technological, economic or legal environment that has adversely affected the assets of the entity. There has been increase in the return on investment and the market rate of interest that have resulted in decline in the recoverable value of the assets. The carrying amount of the asset is lower than the market capitalisation of net assets. Internal Sources of Information includes the following: It is evident that there is damage or obsolesce of assets; The manner of using assets have changed significantly; The AASB 136 states that an assets is impaired if the carrying value of the assets is less than the recoverable amount of the assets. The recent developments in the external environment of Myer business indicate that there is an evidence of impairment of assets. The company has changed its strategy to take on the online business of Amazon (Christensen et al. 2016, pp.397-435). In the altered strategy, the company has developed new store format and made changes in the outlet. The company has made announcement related to closure of store, new stores are terminated and the space is optimised. The above discussion states that this are the evidence of impairment of assets. Processes for determining asset impairments The amortisation is not applicable to goodwill and intangible assets that do not have definite useful life. In this case, the assets are tested annually to determine the impairment of assets. The company conducts impairment testing of noncurrent assets when there is an indication that the amount recoverable from the assets is lower than the carrying value of the assets (Wang 2014, pp.955-992). The loss of impairment should be recognised and in order to do that the assets should be grouped together. In case of Myer, the goodwill that are arising on the acquisition of the business cannot be identified with the separate cash generating units. Therefore, in this case goodwill is allocated to the entire business. There are no definite life periods for the brand name of the company and is currently is valued $402.8 million as on 2015 (Anon 2017). The intangible assets that have indefinite life is required to be tested for impairment on annual basis. The company has adopted the process of discounted cash flow model in order to determine the recoverable amount of assets. In this model, the projected cash flow of the five year is used to ascertain the recoverable amount (Albu et al. 2014, pp.489-510). The company by using the terminal growth rate extrapolate the cash flow that is beyond the five-year period. There are certain assumptions that are made in calculating the projected cash flow: The gross profit margin of the company is 39.5%; The pre-tax discount rate is taken as 14.4%; The terminal growth rate is taken as 2.5%; ; The same procedure and assumptions are used to calculate the carrying value of the stores. In addition to this, the company also makes assessment whether there is any indication that the financial assets of the company are impaired. If there is a prolonged decline in the value of equity below the cost then an impairment loss in the value of equity share is recognised. Therefore, the procedure that have been followed by the Myers for determining the impairment of assets have been discussed. Information needed to determine asset impairments The method that have been applied for determining the impairment amount ascertains the information need and the details that are required. The Para 30 of the AASB 136 provides that for value in use of the assets the information is required to determine the liquidity condition of the assets (Christensen et al. 2015, pp.397-435). In determining the amount of impairment, the estimated cash flow is required to be calculated. The flowing informations are required to determine the impairment of assets: The economic information is necessary to make the assumption; In order to justify the period of budget the information is required to be obtained; In order to determine the average growth rate of the company the information should be obtained; In order to determine the growth rate of the industry the information is required to be obtained; The information pertaining to the market in which the business operates should be obtained. Flexibility management has in the determination of asset impairments The flexibility in the management refers to the ability of the manager to use judgment in making estimations. The Para 24 of the AASB 136 provides the manner in which the management measures the amount that is recoverable from the intangible assets is an example of flexibility that is used by the management. The Para 30 of the AASB 136 provides that in calculating the value in use the management is required to calculate the future cash flow (Miller and Power 2013, pp.557-605). In calculating the future cash flow, the management has enough flexibility to make appropriate assumptions. The estimated future cash flow is required to be calculated based on the management best assessment of the economic condition that is expected in the future period. Therefore, it can be seen that the management has sufficient flexibility in determining the impairment of assets. Referencing Albu, C.N., Albu, N. and Alexander, D., 2014. When global accounting standards meet the local contextInsights from an emerging economy.Critical Perspectives on Accounting,25(6), pp.489-510. Anon, (2017). [online] Available at: https://investor.myer.com.au/FormBuilder/_Resource/_module/dGngnzELxUikQxL5gb1cgA/file/Myer_Annual_Report_2016.pdf [Accessed 25 Aug. 2017]. Christensen, H.B., Lee, E., Walker, M. and Zeng, C., 2015. Incentives or standards: What determines accounting quality changes around IFRS adoption?.European Accounting Review,24(1), pp.31-61. Christensen, H.B., Nikolaev, V.V. and WITTENBERG?MOERMAN, R.E.G.I.N.A., 2016. Accounting information in financial contracting: The incomplete contract theory perspective.Journal of accounting research,54(2), pp.397-435. Du, K., Givoly, D. and Alhusaini, B., 2017. The Impact of the Codification of Accounting Standards on Compliance and Reporting Costs, and its Usefulness for Empirical Research. Miller, P. and Power, M., 2013. Accounting, organizing, and economizing: Connecting accounting research and organization theory.Academy of Management Annals,7(1), pp.557-605. Oulasvirta, L., 2014. The reluctance of a developed country to choose International Public Sector Accounting Standards of the IFAC. A critical case study.Critical Perspectives on Accounting,25(3), pp.272-285. Wang, C., 2014. Accounting standards harmonization and financial statement comparability: Evidence from transnational information transfer.Journal of Accounting Research,52(4), pp.955-992.

Lysistrata Essays (923 words) - Lysistrata, Women In War, Myrrhine

Lysistrata Lysistrata A play about making war - and not making love? The Talbot Theatre production of Lysistrata both entertained and delighted this member of the audience, who was there partly because of an English assignment requirement, but mainly because of the opportunity to enjoy a live theatre production. The theatre company employed many different components to bring this antiwar play to life that evening on the stage. These components can be broken into three categories, which visually enhanced the text of the play. The first of these categories is the setting, the stage lighting, and the props. The second component is the symbolism of some of those props, and the third component is the character portrayals by the actors on the stage. To take us back to ancient Greece, the props master employed a very simple interpretation using columns on a raised set of steps, with a backdrop of blue. To add to the feel of the era, a statue stands in the middle of the platform. This platform serves double duty as the Akropolis and as the Citadel, both of which the women have occupied. When the men light a fire below the walls of the Akropolis, smoke pours out of the bundle of sticks, making it appear as if a fire has really been ignited. Fortunately the women are ready and the fire is extinguished and the men all doused with water, which is portrayed well with buckets and actions that look as if the men are being driven away by the water. When Kinesias comes to see Myrrhine, and they head off to Pan's cave, the stage lighting is dimmed to give the effect of the darkness of being in a cave. The most strikingly visual use of stage props is the appearance of larger than life erect phalluses under the tunics of all the male main cha racters during the second half of the play. These seemingly grotesque male members serve to symbolize the frustration of the men. However, they are also a symbol of how the men's political power has been superceded by the primitive urge for sex, and how the women now hold power over the men. The statue, which is on the platform, is dressed in armor and symbolizes the war. The shield is taken by the women to be used for the purpose of swearing their oath, but they quickly realize that they cannot swear for peace on a shield used for war. This warrior statue disappears at the end of the play, reappearing as a female, the statue of PEACE, considerably shapelier and more enticing to the men. The characters presented the most impressive visual component. Lysistrata was portrayed perfectly as a down-to-earth woman who has had enough of war and is willing to lead a revolution to end it. Most of the rest of the women are portrayed as being frothy little things, more interested in clothing, shopping and sex, interests which Lysistrata feels that she can employ to bring about the change in the men's attitudes. The costumes on the main characters evoked the image of the time, and helped to define the characters. Both the members of the female chorus and the male chorus are dressed in white, to keep them separate in our minds from the main characters of the story. However, they are employed in such a way in the play as to explain a lot of the story to us by carrying a lot of the action and dialogue of the altercations between the sexes. The main characters employed a number of acting techniques to convey the images of the play. Lampito carries herself differently and speaks with an accent, and although she is dressed somewhat the same as the other women, we realize that she comes from Sparta. The Magistrate struts on to the stage, accompanied by a constable, only to be harassed and ultimately humiliated by the women, who will not be arrested. They turn the tables on the constable by tying him up with his own rope, and then send the magistrate and the constable packing. Comic moments happen when the desperate-for-sex women try to sneak away from the Citadel and are caught by Lysistrata.