Essay about Voltaires Candide - 3524 Words

Voltaires Candide Voltaire’s masterpiece has been read delightfully and with much interest by many people since its scarcely secret publication in Geneva and Paris (1759). When it was first published, there were about twenty copies, most of which were pirated. When Voltaire died (1778) there were already more than fifty, and later on it became the best seller of the eighteenth century. It is true that the local conditions have changed since Candide was written. English admirals are not shot any more as a lesson in military perseverance. Jesuits are no longer meal to any tribe in South America, and people do not get cut into pieces when they try to escape from slavery, or at least not as much. But within our own circumstances and†¦show more content†¦Voltaire’s Candide is a pretty accurate book in describing how humans manage to keep piling up excrements since the beggining of times, and this could be solved. Voltaire called this pile of excrement I was referring to avoidable suffering, and the excrement itself it would be human evilness. In this book Voltaire exposes the world from mans point of view, excluding God and the supernatural from any possibility of intervening in humans fate or actions. By this Voltaire based his book on the assumption of humans free will and only responsible for their actions and accomplishments. He was excluding from this the natural disasters, but he still did not blame those on the supernatural. Whether the world is good or bad, it is us humans that make it that way. In this matter Voltaire agreed with his enemy Rousseau: men, all misfortunes come from you. Candide is the story of a man whose naive soul is born in a world governed by evil and injustice. With experience as his only teacher, reason as his only hope, and action as the only and ultimate solution, this man has to find his place in a world that is made for nobody and in which happiness seems impossible to reach. Reality is bad, but the denial of it is even worst. This is one of the most important themes that Voltaire included in his masterpiece. There are two actors that play these roles in the story. A world filled with catastrophes, sometimes natural, but most man madeShow MoreRelatedEssay Voltaire’s Candide1318 Words   |  6 PagesVoltaire’s Candide portrays an exaggerated image of human cruelty and suffering in the world. Specifically, Voltaire criticizes people’s lack of willingness to prevent suffering, and their tendency to accept the idea that there is nothing anyone can do about human outcomes. He upholds his belief that practical ways of solving problems generate improvement. He believes that human indifference and inaction cause suffering to carry on. Voltaire’s believes that naà ¯ve optimism, absolute pessimism, cruelRead MoreVoltaires Candide Essay1500 Words   |  6 PagesCandide On November 21, 1694, Francois-Marie Arouet, otherwise known as Voltaire, was born in Paris. The youngest of five, son to Francois and Marie Arouet, Voltaire grew up in a household that had come to know the pleasantries of upper class french society. Marie, his mother, had gained the family access to Louis XIV court through her realtives. Because of Voltaire’s priviledged lineage he was able to study under the Abbe de Chateaneuf, at the Louis-le-Grand Jesuit College in Paris. VoltaireRead MoreEssay on Voltaires Candide826 Words   |  4 Pagespossible worlds.† This is a statement that can be found many times within Voltaire’s Candide. Voltaire rejected Lebitizian Optimism, using Candide as a means for satirizing what was wrong with the world, and showing that, in reality, this is not the best of all possible worlds. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The philosophy of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz, which Voltaire called â€Å"optimism,† is one of the main themes of Candide. The two main points of Leibnitzian philosophy are that God is beneficent,Read MoreEssay on Voltaires Candide988 Words   |  4 PagesVoltaires Candide Candide is a reflection of the philosophical values of the Enlightenment. Voltaire’s novel is a satire of the Old Regime ideologies in which he critiques the political, social, and religious ideals of his time. A common intellectual characteristic of the Enlightenment was anti-feudalism. Philosophers were against the separations in the Old Regime and pushed for equality among human beings. Voltaire parodies the pompousness of the nobility several times throughoutRead More Voltaires Candide: The Transformation of Candide Essay1105 Words   |  5 PagesVoltaires Candide: The Transformation of Candide   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Candide (1991), which is another version of Voltaire by French writer Francois-Marie Arouet, is a short but diverse story that tells of a young mans journey for love and the hardships he faces all the while keeping a very strong, positive and philosophical outlook on life. The book starts in an unknown year, hinted sometime around the Renaissance, with a young man named Candide. Candide loves the princess of a Baron and is banished fromRead More Voltaires Candide Essay1146 Words   |  5 PagesVoltairess Candide In Voltaires?s Candide, the main character, Candide, fails to live happily because he is looking outside of himself and his circumstances to do it. Voltaire says through Candides ultimate discovery that happiness in many ways depends on a persons attitude. Voltaires philosophy expressed through Candides final realization is that We must cultivate our garden, which is the key to happiness(p.585). By cultivating our garden, Voltaire means that we must make the best ofRead MoreVoltaires Candide and Mockery Essay1209 Words   |  5 PagesOn the surface, Voltaire’s Candide seems to be about every stupidity, every transgression, and every immoral act conceivable to man. It is a satirical and absurd look at life and religion. It makes a mockery of organized religious institutions and leaders. The hypocrisy of the actions of these leaders makes the reader wonder if Voltaire is against every religious order and even God, or is it simply the hypocrisy he abhors. In examining this book, it is a satirical way of looking at the hypocrisyRead MoreCharacter Analysis: Voltaires Candide1827 Words   |  8 PagesEnlightenment poem â€Å"Candide† translated into Romanticism Voltaire’s â€Å"Candide or Optimism† was written in the enlightenment era. Voltaire’s story is published in The Norton Anthology of Western Literature. Voltaire’s character Pangloss is a philosophy who taught about the all-powerful God, who created the world. Pangloss indicated the world must belong to God, for he was the only divine creator. Pangolss was also a mentor to Candide, who was the main character in the novel. Candide had a goodRead More Voltaires Candide Essay example822 Words   |  4 PagesVoltaires Candide Throughout the novel, Candide, Voltaire repeatedly exploits the nature of humans to consider others situations and lifestyles to be better than that of their own. Voltaire uses Candides journeys to portray the human assumption that the grass is always greener on the other side. This theme is shown in Candides strife for companionship, his experience with wealth, and his interaction with other characters. The situations that develop the theme do so in such a wayRead More Essay on Satire in Voltaires Candide625 Words   |  3 PagesUse of Satire in Voltaire’s Candide  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   Voltaire successfully uses satire as a means of conveying his opinions about life.   In his novel, Candide, Voltaire satirizes the philosopher Liebnitzs philosophy that this is the best of all possible worlds.   In the novel, the perpetually optimistic and naive character, Candide, travels around the world, having various experiences that prove, at least to the reader, that evil does exist.      In one particular passage, Voltaire uses explicit

Major Depression Definition - 1198 Words

Andrea Yates was born on July 2, 1964. In high school she graduated as valedictorian and moved onto college where she graduated with a nursing degree and preceded to become a registered nurse. It wasn’t until after Andrea met her husband, Rusty Yates, and had her first of five children that she started to show signs and eventually be diagnosed with major depression and psychotic features. Major depression is defined as a person who â€Å"has a history of one or more depressive episodes and no history of manic or hypomanic episodes. Symptoms often interfere with the person’s social or occupational functioning and in some cases may include psychotic features†. (Varcarolis 327) Psychotic features are â€Å"breaks with reality (such as†¦show more content†¦After Andrea was released her out-patient doctor switched her to Ativan, which she did not take. Because Haldol worked she was released but prescribed Haldol and was strongly advised not to get pregnant again because it was a good possibility that it would trigger more psychotic episodes. Zoloft is a â€Å"selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor commonly prescribed as an antidepressant. Zoloft affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression, panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorders. It is used to treat depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder†. (Cerner) â€Å"Depressive symptoms are the result of a biochemical imbalance in the brain, a disturbance in the brain’s chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. Zoloft acts on the neurotransmitter serotonin, allowing electrical messages to be processed more smoothly and efficiently. This helps relieve symptoms of depression. Zyprexa is an antipsychotic medication. Zyprexa works to reduce symptoms of schizophrenia by blocking various serotonin and dopamine receptors. It blocks the serotonin receptors more potently than dopamine. Ativan is a sedat ive medication generally used to treat anxiety. Ativan works by increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid which inhibits the nervous system, reducing the states of mental and physical overexcitement†.Show MoreRelatedPsychology : Human And Emotional Type Of Disorders1734 Words   |  7 Pagestopic of abnormal psychology. Abnormal psychology is and can be thought of as like any other psychology in a way but more specifically it is a psychology that deals with the understanding of mental and emotional type of disorders. As a psychology major you get to look at psychology through many forms, this is done with an objective which prepares you so to see which focus you find or can connect to most, most often for personal or logical base reasons. A subject or topic that caught my attentionRead MoreSuicide and the Leading Causes1076 Words   |  5 Pages One factor that leads many people to suicide is depression. Depression is defined as â€Å"a mental disorder characterized by sustained depression of mood, anhedonia, sleep and appetite disturbances, and feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and hopelessness† (Definition: Major Depression). Depression does seem like an obvious choice, however what may not be as obvious is the genetic link. Scientists have researched twins with and without depression to find out if there is a genetic link. The scientistsRead MoreThe Effects Of Depression And Its Effects On Society Essay1497 Words   |  6 PagesDepression is much more than a word with a definition. It is a constant feeling of sadness, guilt, and worthlessness. All genders and ages can experience what it is like to be depressed; however, the earliest signs of depression begin with youngest of the human population. From the day a child is born, the environment, the people, and everything else around them, begins to influence their decisions and impact the way they will live their life. A child is the first naà ¯ve human being to be influencedRead MoreSymptoms And Changes Of Depression1484 Words   |  6 PagesDepression is a mood disorder characterized by pervasive sadness and psychophysiological changes like changes in sleep patterns, sexual desires, loss of pleasure in previously enjoyed things, and even suicidal thoughts (Belmaker Agam, 2008, p. 55). Its rise in prevalence in Western society means that students with depression or depressive symptoms are more common in our schools. The students experience difficulty in motivation and self-esteem, and depression is often comorbid with disorders likeRead MoreDepression And The Elderly : The Major Risks Of Old Age Depression1442 Words   |  6 PagesDepression in the Elderly: The Major Risks of Old Age Depression To gain an improved understanding of depression in elderly and how to treat such cases, a definition of the disease itself must be familiarized: the ensuing information and research aims to supplement previous understandings. Since the elderly are not usually studied as a major demographic of depression patients, general statistics will be used when needed. The statistical difference between an average person with depression andRead MoreImportance Of Critical Thinking In Psychology1275 Words   |  6 Pagesof an issue in order to form a judgement.† (â€Å"critical thinking | Definition of critical thinking in English by Oxford Dictionaries†, 2017). Based on this definition, critical thinking within psychology means we do not accept all arguments and conclusions we are exposed to but question them and focus on what evidence is already involved to support a particular argument, conclusion or theory. (â€Å"What is Critical Thinking? - Definition, Skills Meaning - Vid eo Lesson Transcript | Study.com†, 2017)Read MoreDifferent Forms Of Bi Polar Disorder855 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many forms of bi-polar disorder but to understand those forms we must know the definition of Bi-polar disorder. Bi-polar disorder, is also referred to as manic-depressive illness. It causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and the ability to carry out day-to-day task. People go through ups and downs from time to time. Some also experience drastic change in mood. Scientist are always trying to study the cause for the disease. Practices have been linked back as far as theRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome1417 Words   |  6 Pagescommonly known syndrome and many women affected by it are not diagnosed or treated for it. PCOS is a major medical problem that is affecting five to ten percent of the female population in the U.S. and many more across the globe (American Diabetes Association, 2014). This syndrome must become better known in the near future so that women with PCOS can take better control and care of their own body. DEFINITION: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a common endocrine disorder that can affect many women. It is alsoRead MoreWhat Is The Impact Of Nursing And Health1109 Words   |  5 Pagesfor this easy is Bury, which is part of the Bury Metropolitan Borough and also will be looking at depression, which is one of the major health issues of concern in this area. It is worth mentioning that although the main focus of this write up is depression, it will not be discussed in isolation as possible links with physical health issues will be explored. The association between smoking and depression will also be considered, with the view of exploring any possible effect smoking can have on a person’sRead MoreThe Causes Of Depression And Depression884 Words   |  4 Pages The causes of depression Recent researches have showed that there are a high percentage of people at any age has depression problems. More than three hundred thousand people get into permanent care of depression every year (Merrell n.d). Depression is a major problem, and it is not like any other disease. Some people are born with this disease; perhaps they got it from their ancestors that stuck in their system. Many people attempt to commit suicide because of depression, which is common these

My Community with Christ Essay Example For Students

My Community with Christ Essay Community is very important and has many factors like kinship, unity, and identity. Community helps society because it creates solutions, provides security, reveals dedication and lastly discovers truthfulness. Communities can be found everywhere and can be created anywhere. You may be unaware of it, but anyone can be apart of some community not only based on your location, but also based on ones lifestyle, religion, heritage, education, or abilities. In the book Barbarian Nurseries by Hector Tobar can relate to many communities that play to my personal life such as my church community. The church that I attend every Sunday is called Cerritos Mission Church (CMC) located in Cerritos. Not only do I consider church and its members that come along with it as a community of mine but I also label them as family. Location is a big factor in Barbarian Nurseries and the church I attend. In the novel Barbarian Nurseries, the setting takes place in a not so well off area in â€Å"El Paseo Bonita,† also in the Los Angeles city. Although the story does take place in the Torres family household, which can be identified as an elegant or middle class home, the environment surrounding their area could be examined as a run down city. When the grandfather goes missing, the boys and also Araceli go off to look for him. In the novel, Hector Tobar described the ambiance of the adventure of looking for the kid’s grandfather as a busy area where there are many people walking place to place, business street sellers, cars, trains, and a lot of sound. I can relate this also to my CMC church that I attend. The location of my church is in a not so well off city but the people that attend generates my church to be different from those around. Cerritos Mission Church does not have a lot of people that attend every Sunday but I am forever grateful that we have such a small close-knit community with one purpose. As my pastor stated, â€Å"love one another as I have loved you. † That purpose is solely to serve, preach, spread and love the lord. Another topic in Barbarian Nurseries can be family. One night, an argument between the Scott and Maureen turns physical, and a misunderstanding leaves the children in Araceli’s care. Arceli, the household maid, also becomes like a mother figure and is someone to look up to while the parents always leave unexpectedly. In Cerritos Mission, I can consider the members of this church as my brothers and sisters in Christ. Just as how my pastor has once stated in his sermon, â€Å"Look to your left and right, those are your brothers and sisters. We are a church community who not only serve the lord but are also there for the members of the church. † Although I may not know some of the members that consist of this church, but I can also say that each and every member is apart of my family. Some of my great friends are the ones that I have made through church. Despite the fact that I see some of them once a week, I am relieved that I have someone that I can always talk to and pray about whenever things go wrong. Lastly, a topic that can relate to Cerritos Mission Church and Barbarian Nurseries is the widely discussed topic of culture and language differences. I personally think that my church is limited in numbers due to the fact that it is known as a Korean/American church. People automatically think this church is single handedly for Koreans that speak Korean but that’s not the case because my church welcomes anyone of any race or ethnic background and also has Korean and English services. .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652 , .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652 .postImageUrl , .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652 , .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652:hover , .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652:visited , .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652:active { border:0!important; } .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652:active , .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652 .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3ad1f7a59bf3fee02d4fa3019b245652:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Sex Education: Does it Really Work? EssayPastor Joseph Suk stated, â€Å"I personally speak too much Korean myself but I have set the differences aside and try my best to communicate with the elders of the church. † Language can be a big barrier in my church community as well as the novel Barbarian Nurseries. Scott and Maureen don’t speak much Spanish, and their employees don’t speak much English. Communication between employer and employee is limited to facial expressions, hand signals and a crude Spanglish. Communication between Maureen and Scott is strained, too. Maureen can’t comprehend why her mild-mannered husband would punch a wall, and h e has no reason to explain. Being in a community, one has to accept the differences of others and have a impenetrable bond with one another. Communities can also be expressed as family such as how Araceli was considered as one to the kids and how my pastor and its members are considered as apart of mine. The book Barabarian Nurseries entails many differences and problems that were overcome through family. I personally did not like this book in the beginning because of the fact that is was a bit too slow for me but then after the story progressed I enjoyed the book much more.

Masque Of Red Death By Poe Essays - The Masque Of The Red Death

Masque Of Red Death By Poe In "The Masque of the Red Death", Poe leads one event into another often. He uses much symbolism, and in the paragraphs below, I will show you it. In the first couple of paragraphs however, I will summarize the plot and state the theme. In this plot, Poe begins by talking about the Red Death, basically setting the stage for later events in the story. Then, he talks about Prince Prospero, which tells the reader that Prospero and the Red Death will have a conflict later in the story. Next, Poe gives a short summary of the setting, and also mentions that the "Red Death" was not there. After this, Poe gives a description of the rooms. The first room had blue ornaments and windows. Poe then makes each room darker until he gets to the seventh, which is black. This shows that death is coming to Prospero. Also, in the seventh room, the windows are blood red, which also shows that the "Red Death" is coming. Also, the ebony clock keeps on ticking, which is slowly setting up the conflict, Prince Prospero vs. "The Red Death." Also, the color of the wood is also symbolic. Ebony is black, so again death is symbolized. At the end, or conclusion, the clock strikes 12, and "The Red Death" makes its appearance, and kills Prospero. In the plot, I believe that the talking about the Red Death and Prospero is the introduction, because it introduced the two big influences in the story. I also think that the descriptions of the rooms is the rising action, because it gives the setting for the conflict. The conflict is Prospero trying to avoid the Red Death, which is man vs. nature. The falling action in the story is when Prospero is caught by the Red Death, and the conclusion is that he is dead. The theme of the story is that you cannot escape death no matter how hard you try. In the story, Prospero tried to escape it, and look what happened. In other words, don't try to run away from death, you're only delaying the inevitable. In the story, the irony was that the man's name was Prince Prospero. His last name sounds like "prosperous," which means to achieve success. The fact that Prospero dies shows that he is not prosperous as his name suggests; he is in fact unlucky.

Business Research Essays - Marketing, Evaluation,

Business Research Introduction and Overview Businesses in today's economy often face challenges that are not readily apparent until, more often than not, the costs of those challenges become critical. A businesses ability to identify the fundamentals of these challenges and act accordingly to squelch the damage that has been done while bouncing back is paramount to the businesses success. This paper will identify three key areas in identifying and repairing the critical problems that can occur. More importantly, this paper will also identify several fundamentals within the three areas. The paper will examine some sub levels of (1) analysis, (2) cost, and (3) research. Additionally, this paper will discuss the measures that several companies took in these areas to show special examples of these principles in use. Analysis Within the scope of needs assessment and analysis there are many building blocks that complete the full picture. One such block is comprised of the levels of analysis. And within the levels of analysis there are three main points. These points as reported by Goldstien (1993); McGehee and Thayer (1961); Moore and Dutton (1978); and Sleezer (1991) are (1) organization, (2) job or task, and (3) individual or person (as cited by Holton). The following paragraphs will discuss each of these three points by defining and demonstrating their context within analysis. Organization Holton (1996) suggests that the three-level approach to needs assessment suggests that assessors should start by analyzing the organization to determine what results are not occurring and should be, and what organizational factors are contributing to that condition. This could easily be interpreted as examining the issue on a macro level to determine if the organization is meeting its goals and objectives or not. A good example of this level of analysis put to good use is demonstrated by Kmart in the late 1950's. In a case study by Hartley (1997) Kmart and the two year analysis of their market performed by Harry B. Cunningham (later President of Kmart). In this instance Cunningham studied the overall market and competitors while analyzing the Krieger (Kmart) organization. This needs assessment eventually led Krieger to change its approach to that of the discount genre and the first Kmart was opened in 1962. Though the company had experienced a 34 percent decrease in profits between 1958 and 1962, the new venture called Kmart was an immediate success (Hartley 1997). Kmart would grow from 216 stores in 1968 to 1,366 stores in 1978. Task Task analysis, as stated by Dessler (1997), is a detailed study of a job to identify the skills required so that an appropriate training program may be instituted. By analyzing the task, a company can determine a variety of methodologies for hiring, training, and forecasted outcome for the task being analyzed. Additionally, effective task analysis enables a company to determine what tasks need to be performed, and gives it the ability to gauge whether or not the necessary tasks are indeed being performed. A classic example of this is demonstrated by a needs analysis performed for General Motors (GM) and the United Auto Workers (UAW) on the task analysis level. According to Finison and Szedlak (1997), GM and the UAW formed a needs analysis team to identify and correct several challenges in a production facility. The focus in this case was in the blanker area of a metal fabrication plant and served as a pilot to other programs which would follow. After examining the issues through a needs analysis, the team determined that the focus of the needs analysis would be on training (Finison 1997). By focusing in this area, new training was provided for the production operators. Finison and Szidlak (1997) also noted that costs were minimal because the course was already offered in- house. The results were improved quality and a 30 percent reduction in scrap rate. The overall value was a savings of over $500,000 in the first year alone among other ancillary benefits. Individual At the individual level of analysis, a firm is essentially taking the other side of the task analysis. By this, as written by Holton (1996), the firm or assessor should study individuals to determine who needs learning to accomplish those jobs tasks. According to Dessler (1997), verifying that there is a performance deficiency and determining

How Does Shakespeare Influence Audience Opinion Of Shylock in The Merchant Of Venice Essays

How Does Shakespeare Influence Audience Opinion Of Shylock in The Merchant Of Venice Essays How Does Shakespeare Influence Audience Opinion Of Shylock in The Merchant Of Venice Paper How Does Shakespeare Influence Audience Opinion Of Shylock in The Merchant Of Venice Paper Essay Topic: Merchant Of Venice Opinion Play Shakespeare influences audience opinion in many different ways in The Merchant Of Venice. However, some of the devices he uses may have differing effects on Elizabethan and modern audiences. Elizabethans had many prejudiced stereotypes that Shakespeare includes in his play. There was less diversity of cultures when Shakespeare wrote the play, and therefore there was a lot more bad feeling towards different races and religions. Elizabethans were also more religious than people are nowadays, so there feelings towards religion and religious beliefs were much stronger than they would be today. The Elizabethans did not like the Jews, mainly because of the stereotypes that were portrayed of them. Jews were seen to be money grabbing and the Elizabethans disagreed with their ideas and values about life. The play was set in Venice, Italy where there was a law of equality which allowed trade to run smoothly as much of the Venetian way of life was based on trading. This would have an effect on the Elizabethan audience because Elizabethans believed that generosity was a great virtue to have, and they believed that Jews were not at all generous, something which is definite of Shylocks character. They also disliked usurers and merchants because they went against the Christian values. The play is a comedy and a lot of the humour was based on the Elizabethan reaction to Shylocks character and onstage appearance. However, in modern times society is a lot less prejudiced, thus creating more sympathy for Shylock. The Elizabethan audience would also be much more religious than a modern audience, and Shylock was a character that went against everything they believed in as Christians. Most of the Christian values are opposed to the stereotypical portrayal of Jews, especially as they are portrayed in Merchant Of Venice. Therefore, especially with an Elizabethan audience, the main feeling towards Shylock would not be sympathy, but hostility and loathing. The Elizabethan audience would immediately recognise Shylock as Jewish because he would we be dressed in stereotypical Jewish clothes and he would be wearing a red wig which was another stereotypical image of Jews. Everything about him would be stereotypical of a Jewish person, most of it in a degrading way as Shakespeare himself would have been a Christian. A lot of Shylocks speech reflects his character, for instance, he is a miser with words, similar to the way he is a miser with his money. He does not live in the world of aristocrats, but instead the world of merchants, which is why his money is so important to him. In Act One, Scene Three Shylock speaks first and his words are Three thousand ducats; well. This gives us an immediate first impression that his main concern in life is his money and wealth. He also repeats a lot of his words and phrases which shows he has a materialistic mind and a lack of imagination. He is very narrow and literal minded as we see in the way that he speaks. Ho, no, no, no, no and there be land-rats and water-rats, land-thieves and water-thieves It is significant that he used the term rats, because the Elizabethans had strong views on the sense of order of being. They thought that the order of society reflected the universe. Animals were at the bottom of this chain and therefore the least important. Elizabethan philosophers thought that man would lapse into beastliness if he allowed himself to become selfish. Therefore, the fact that Shylock uses animals as metaphors shows that he is preoccupied with the animal world. This tells us that Shylock is at about the same level as animals in the order of being, giving the audience little respect for him. However, a modern audience may not see this link as they do not have the same ideas as the Elizabethans on the order of being. Other characters in the play also refer to Shylock as a bird of prey which shows us that they perceive him as being the least important person around, and that he is selfish. The audience may react to this differently because it might, for some people, increase their sympathies towards Shylock as he is being mistreated and mocked by the other characters, but other people may see it as a reinforcement to the idea that Shylock is a selfish, unlikeable character. However, I dont think it would influence a modern audiences opinion towards Shylock because they would not associate the animal references with the chain of being. Therefore, it would only affect the Elizabethan audiences who would understand the references. He also repeats short, blunt phrases, showing his stubborn personality and his repetition of the adjectives rats and thieves show, again, that he lacks imagination and it is a great contrast to the metaphorical way of speaking of Antonio and the other Christians. [Antonio]The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul, producing holy witness, is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly rotten apple at the heart. This is an example of the poetic speech of Antonio and his fellow Christians. This gives the audience a negative opinion about Shylock compared to Antonio already, as Shakespeare wanted his audience to think that Christians were much more sensitive and open hearted then the Jews. It also means that the a udience will subconsciously prefer Antonio to Shylock as his words are much more poetical and less blunt. It also gives us a bad impression of Shylock because we see that Antonio is speaking harsh words about him and we know that there must be a reason for this because Antonio is Christian and is therefore good and speaks the truth. The contrasts between Shylock and Antonio influence audience opinion greatly. The main reason for disliking Shylock is the fact that he is a Jew and most of the Elizabethan audience, as well as the majority of the characters in the play, are Christians. Therefore, a lot of the influences on the audience for disliking Shylock, come from the constant comparisons to Antonio who is seen to be automatically a good character, simply because he is a Christian. This is hypocritical because, although Antonio is not an obvious merchant like Shylock, he still makes money in the same way that Shylock does, but through his ships. However, there are some similarities between the two characters. Although it is more obvious with Shylock, both of the characters are outsiders. Shylock, because he is a Jew and Antonio because he is unmarried. Also, neither of them accept the others religion and they both hate each other because of it. Both of them are lonely, isolated figures amongst the happy youth of Venice. They also both equate their property with their life and they both have a power over the others life at some time in the play. This means that although the audience may dislike Shylock and like Antonio, there are still similarities between them, which might make their opinions change or differ throughout the play. There is a irony in the way that one of the reasons the Christians (and Antonio) despise Shylock is because of what he does with his money (lend it out for profit) but Antonio does the same thing with his trading, but in a different way. This irony is highlighted in Act Four, Scene One, by Portia [Portia]Which is the merchant here? And which is the Jew? This would show the audience that some of the reasons for disliking Shylock are unfair, as they apply to themselves and the other Christian characters in the play. There are, however, a lot of differences and contrasts between Antonio and Shylock apart from the obvious different religions. Shylock lends his money to his enemies for a profit, whereas Antonio lends his money to his friends for free. Antonio risks his life for Bassanio because he is his friend, but Shylock tries to take the life of Antonio because he is his enemy. They also have very different characters. Antonio is mainly optimistic and merciful, whereas Shylock is pessimistic and vengeful. This influences the audience opinion because they think of Antonio as a good character because he shows better characteristics. The audience will also have a negative opinion of Shylock because he is surrounded by enemies while Antonio is surrounded by friends. This is part of the way the scene is structured which affects the audience opinion of Shylock. The way the scenes are structured has a lot to do with our opinion of Shylock. For example, in most of the scenes we either see Shylock in the middle of a conversation, or entering in the middle of a scene with other characters. This means that we never see whether Shylock stops talking about money when he is not talking about the deal, because we never see him start a conversation. This means that we have a negative view of him, because we always see the same business side of him. We also never see Shylock on his own, he always enters the stage to join a social grouping, which automatically makes him seem like an outsider. This also means that we rarely see Shylock as he sees himself, just as other people see him. Because most of the other characters in the play are Christians, and therefore dislike Shylock, we see their image of him, which is obviously going to be negative. However, through the use of asides, Shylock reveals some of his inner thoughts to the audience, which is the only time we get to see what Shylock is really feeling. [Shylock talking about Antonio]How like a fawning publican he is: I hate him for he is Christian This shows us that Shylock is capable of human emotion and he does have feelings, which is a contrast to the narrow minded image we have of him, due to his cold, monosyllabic talk. However, these emotions are negative so they do not necessarily create a good image of his personality, but they still show that he has emotions. This creates a better image for Shylock and we feel more sympathy towards him because as we realise that he does have feelings, we realise that he does get hurt by the way he is treated and we see that it is unfair. However, Shylock is being hypocritical because he is being prejudiced against Antonio which is one of the reasons that he (Shylock) is treated unfairly himself. In a modern audience, however, where religion is less important they may see that Shylocks prejudices are justified because of the way that he is treated. In Act three, Scene one the language that Shylock uses influences our opinion a lot. Shylock learns of the disappearance of his daughter, Jessica and he does not seem to be very concerned. She is damned for it This suggests that Shylock does not care about what has happened to her and he blames her, saying she is damned. A lot of the reactions he has towards his daughter would influence audience opinion greatly. A lot of Act Three, Scene One is about the disappearance of Shylocks daughter Jessica. Shylock fears that she has run away with a Christian, his greatest enemies. At first we think that he is genuinely interested in his daughters well-being. [Shylock]Hast thou found my daughter? The first thing he thinks about is his daughter, which shows us that he does have some good sides to him and he wants to know what has happened to his daughter. This will make the audience see him in a good light as he has shown us that he cares about someone. However, Shylock then proves that he is a slave to his money [Shylock]a diamond gone! Cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfurt I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear Shylock has openly admitted that he would rather have his jewels and his daughter dead, than the other way around. This is a shocking thing to admit and it will influence the audience greatly into having a negative opinion about him, because the fact that he cares more about his money than his daughter gives the impression that he is extremely cold hearted and money is his life. Although Shylock repeatedly talks about his loyalty to the Jewish faith, it is shown to be less important to him than his wealth [Shylock]a diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfurt! The curse never fell upon our nation until now; I never felt it till now This shows that his priorities lie not with his faith which he talks about so much, but with his money because he admits that the supposed curse on his race has not affected him until now, when his money has been taken away. By saying this the audience gets an impression of him that until things affect him personally they do not bother him, which emphasises his selfish personality. It also shows that he is feeling bitter about being a Jew. He then calls his daughter a thief, which shows that he doesnt seem to have any compassion towards her because she has taken the most important thing in his life from him: money. This reinforces our opinions and ideas about his character, and the audience will continue to see him in a bad light. We then see more of Shylocks bad side when he learns about Antonios ships. [Shylock]What, what, what? ill luck? ill luck? From this we see that he is keen for someone else to suffer bad luck as well as him. It also shows us that he is happy again now he knows that he will get his money. Again we see that money is extremely important to him because he has become happier when he realises that he Antonio will not be able to pay him back and therefore broken the bond. This shows us again the bitterness and selfishness of his character. However, he does show us that he has some feelings because he mentions his ex-wife Leah. I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor: I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys. This shows us that he does in fact care for some people, and he does have feelings and emotions as he would not have given the ring away because of its sentimental value. This shows the audience that he cared for his wife and it creates audience sympathy towards him because he obviously cares/cared for her, proving he does have emotions and he is not completely bitter. Another of the main devices in the play which influence our opinion of Shylock occurs with the main twist in the plot: the ending where the tables are turned on Shylock. In the court he is insisting on carrying out the bond he had with Antonio, even though both the judge and Portia are against him and have offered him three times the money Antonio owed him instead of the pound of flesh. However, Portia points out that Shylock cannot have his pound of flesh because the bond would not allow him to spill any of Antonios blood, and Shylock would not be able to take a pound of flesh from Antonio without taking any of his blood. [Portia]Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; But, in cutting it, if thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate Unto the state of Venice This comes as a shock to both the audience and Shylock because neither of them would foresee this. It is also an example of irony because Portia is being as p edantic about the law as Shylock was earlier in the scene. There is even more dramatic irony when Shylock is forced to be a Christian. [Antonio] He presently become a Christian This is ironic because Christians are supposed to believe in mercy and forgiveness, so this is going against their religious beliefs. It also makes the audience feel sympathy towards Shylock because he is facing having to lose everything or to change his beliefs. It is also ironic that Antonio and the other Christians despise Shylock because he lends money for profit, because they do exactly the same thing, just in a different way. Antonio sends his ships out to buy goods cheaply from other places, and then he will sell them on for more money, which is effectively the same as what Shylock is doing. Christians also believe that everyone is equal but they do not show these qualities in their inhuman treatment of their slaves. This hypocrisy increases audience sympathy for Shylock because we see, again, that he is being mistreated, even more clearly than before. Because Shylocks religion was one of the main reasons that he was mistreated, the audience will see it as unfair that it is now being taken away from him, when it has been the reason for years of suffering on his part. The trial scene in the play is very important because it is where the two main plots come together. The scene starts without Shylock (which is the case for much of the play) and when he enters he knows that everyone in the court is Christian so he does not expect much sympathy from them. At the beginning Shylock tells the Court that he wants Antonios flesh because it is his whim although he does not give reasons for this, except that he is only insisting on the bond because he bears a grudge. He points out that other men would do the same thing, only in different situations. This influences the audience opinion as they think he is just being stubborn and difficult, an unlikeable trait. Shylock also refuses to listen to the Dukes pleas of humanity, but the Dukes views are from a Christian point of view so Shylock may not agree with them. We can also see the extremity of Shylocks hatred towards Antonio when Bassanio asks a reasonable question [Bassanio]Do all men kill the things they do not love? Shylock response has extreme implications [Shylock]Hates any man the thing he would not kill? Shylock is saying that Antonio symbolises everything he hates, and that is why he is so insistent on the bond being carried out. The characters in this scene are all human, but they also stand for concepts. Shylock is inflexible and inhuman and he stands for law, an end in itself. Portia represents law in the service of man and we can see this when Bassanio tries to convince Portia to stop Shylock taking his pound of flesh by telling her that to do a great right, do a little wrong. However, she refuses, saying that it must not be. By refusing to stop Shylock she is proving that she represents law in the service of man because she is carrying out the law completely. She is also, by contrast to Shylock, flexible and merciful. However, this emphasises the hypocrisy that Portia shows when she does not show any mercy to Shylock in the end. Portia continuously offers Shylock three times the money that Antonio owed him to let the bond drop, but Shylock refuses. In doing this we see his stubborn nature and his strict adherence to the law. It also shows us that he is hard-hearted and sadistic, certainly not merciful. We see more of a reason to dislike Shylock when he refuses to let a doctor stand by while he takes his pound of flesh because it is not in the bond. This reinforces our opinion that Shylock is dark, sinister and dislikable. Portias pleas for Shylock to accept the money are impassioned and lyrical, but Shylock is unmoved. His lack of emotion makes the audience automatically opposed to him, in that they do not want him to be successful in his fight to take his pound of flesh. Then Antonio makes a speech which greatly influences the audience opinion for both himself and Shylock. He talks about his loyalty to Bassanio and says that he is prepared to die for him, making us see him as a brave, loyal friend. He does not appear to be scared of death and says he will be at least remembered as old and strong rather than old and feeble. He is also keen for Bassanio to tell Portia how he (Antonio) cared for him (Bassanio). This is because he feels an outcast because of the lack of love in his life (another similarity between him and Shylock) and he wants to prove that he does have the capability of loving someone so much he would die for them. This is also ironic because Portia is there and she hears what he says without him realising. When he makes this speech the contrast between him and Shylock is huge because they both have such different values and views on life. The audience will think that Antonio is brave and loyal, and that will lower their opinion of Shylock because Shylock still wants to take his pound of flesh. We see how un-noble Shylock is when he is compared to Antonios loyal outlook. One of the main differences in the two characters opinions of what should happen is caused by their religion. Shylock thinks that he has done nothing wrong and that he is only following the law, therefore he seeks only justice. On the other hand, the Christian outlook is that all men are sinful and depend on Gods mercy. Shylock justifies his opinion by quoting from the bible (3:1). In doing this he is pointing out that the law of the Jews is that of an eye for an eye and the law of Christ is mercy and forgiveness. He is showing how different the two religions views are, and therefore allowing him to contravene the spirit of the law. However the trial scene highlights the fact that Shylocks mind is so twisted that he cannot even admit the bitterness and evil in his own soul. However, in the end, Portia points out that Shylock is unable to get his pound of flesh without letting any blood be shed, which is not allowed in the bond. This is ironic because Portia is being as pedantic about the law as Shylock was being earlier. Then Shylock decides that he would like to just take the money but Portia says that he has already turned them down so he should have nothing but a penalty. Compared to his behaviour and attitude at the beginning of the scene Shylock now becomes more apologetic and begging. Then we see how the way the other characters treat and refer to Shylock will affect the audience opinion. Shylock is treated very badly in this scene. He is not referred to by his name, but by Jew which is made to sound like an insult and it takes away his equality and individuality. They also suggest that Shylock is an outsider of Venice and therefore does not have equal rights. It is enacted in the laws of Venice If it be provd against an alien This is not fair to Shylock as he is as much as a part of Venice as Antonio, Portia and all the other Christians. Here we see a lot of hypocrisy as one of the reasons that they condone Shylock is that he makes money for nothing. However they either dont realise or choose to ignore the fact that they all do the same thing to make a living: buy things and sell them off at a higher price. The audience may be slightly more sympathetic towards Shylock because of the lack of respect and hypocrisy shown to him. It also shows that all the people in the court view Shylock as an outside, although he is as much of a citizen of Venice as they are. The only reason that they dont accept him is that he is a Jew whilst they are Christians. To a modern audience this would seem like a minor difference because there is a much larger diversity amongst the people in Britain then there would have been in Elizabethan times. Therefore, modern audience would not totally understand the seemingly irrational hatred of Shylock, simply for the fact that he is a Jew. Then the Duke decides that Shylock must become Christian and he must leave his money to Jessica and Lorenzo when he dies. This is another example of hypocrisy because Christians should so mercy and forgiveness and they are not showing that at all in the way that they are treating Shylock because they presume that they have the right to change his faith when it is nothing to do with them and it just highlights their prejudices. Shylock is often judged externally which means that the audience do not get to see him as he sees himself. It also means that we only get to see other peoples views on Shylock so the audience only ever gets a secondary view of Shylocks character, which will obviously affect their own opinion of him. For example, a lot of the adjectives used to describe Shylock in Act Four, Scene One vary greatly from those used to describe Antonio. Shylock is described by adjectives such as an inhuman wretch, unfeeling man, harsh, inexecrable dog and the offender. None of these are very complimentary and they would influence the audience opinion. However, Antonio is described as a poor merchant, touchd with human gentleness and love and royal merchant. These words are very complimentary and they would affect the audience view of Shylock because they would compare the adjectives used to describe both characters. Another example of external judging of Shylock comes after his reaction to the abduction of his daughter. Salerio mocks Shylock because of the reaction that he was more concerned about the loss of his money than the loss of his daughter. This, again, will influence audience opinion. Also, the audience would judge Shylock as a Jew through the references of others and through the costume he wears. All of this external judging will influence audience opinion because much of it is negative and if the other characters are constantly mocking or saying negative things about Shylock then the audience will be affected by these views, especially if they do not get to see how Shylock views himself. There would also be differing opinions between modern and Elizabethan audiences because nowadays different cultures, races and religions are much more common around Britain and so any prejudices against someone because of their religion would be seen as racist, and an undesirable characteristic. Elizabethan audiences, however, would see Shylock as inferior to Antonio simply because he is a Jew and Jews were disliked in their times. Therefore, a modern audience may feel sympathy towards Shylock in a lot of the situations, whereas an Elizabethan audience would feel that Shylock deserved what he got.

Organizational Communication Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Organizational Communication - Assignment Example In addition, he used a leadership style that was transactional as its entailed management through enhancing compliance via punishment and rewards. The committee had been given powers to make decisions, but Gassner had the final say in every decision they made. Gassner made sure that each execute committee member headed different regions of that company (Hill, 1995). Gassner had a strategic vision which he ensured was met. He made sure BMG international became successful. He ensured that he was involved in every decision (Hill, 1995). Gassner was tough on ensuring his decisions are followed to the later. In systems theory, there is the issue of interdependence in any organization. Rudi acknowledged this fact and hence created an executive team that was in charge of various regions. He acknowledged interdependence since the regions which they operated differed on the basis of external environment that dealt with customers, competitors, suppliers, financial markets and world economy. In addition, they also differed in complex issues related to external relations, internal operations, strategic decision making plus institutional leadership (Hill, 1995). Gassner’s management style was transactional. He ensured that he established compliance of the workers through coming up with reward and punishment systems. Gassner had been hand-picked by the given CEO, Dornermann. Gassner was an expertise from Polygram and had a good track record on the basis of management. He had his own style of management and involved ‘push’ and ‘pull’ strategies. That ensured high level of awareness existed and resulted in accurate perception of his role and vision (Hill,