There Are Many Themes In The Novel Night, By Elie Wiesel; Some Of Thes

There are many themes in the novel Night, by Elie Wiesel; some of these include loss of faith, father-son relationships, food and hunger, and disbelief. One of the most interesting theme is the father-son relationship. This theme can be seen throughout the novel with many fathers and sons. Elie has a very strong relationship with his father. His main reason for not giving up in the camps is so his father is not alone. Some kinships are not like Elie?s and his father?s. One son purposely loses his father so that he does not burden him and another son beats and kills his own father just for food. Father and son relationships can be seen in many parts in Night and takes a very large roll in the novel. One of the relationships between fathers and sons that demonstrate the compassion for one another, not cruelty, is the relationship between Elie and his father. During the march to Gleiwitz, Elie thinks he can no longer go on with this horrible ordeal but decides he will keep on going for his father. Elie?s inspiration during the endless march is his father. My father?s presence was the only thing that stopped me?He was running at my side, out of breath, at the end of his strength, at his wit?s end. I had no right to let myself die. What would he do without me? I was his only support (82). Their relationship is so strong that is actually gives Elie a reason to keep on living through this novel. Some relationships are not as pleasant as Elie?s with his father. Elie talks about a son and his father, a Rabbi, who intentionally loses his father during the march to Gleiwitz. A terrible thought loomed up in my mind: he had wanted to get rid of his father! He had felt that his father was growing weak, he had believed that the end was near and had sought this separation in order to get rid of the burden, to free himself from an encumbrance which could lessen his own chances of survival (87). When Elie realizes what has happened between the Rabbi and his son, it is very disturbing to him and he prays for strength that he never does this to his father. In these camps, survival was so difficult that it is not unusual for people to become self-centered. During the train ride to Buchenwald a very disturbing situation happens between a father and son. Workmen were throwing pieces of bread inside the wagons just to see the prisoners fight over the food. While they are doing this, an old man comes across a piece of bread and sneaks away from the mob of people, but the man does not go unnoticed. Someone threw himself on top of the old man and begins to hit him for the bread. While this is happening, the old man screams out Meir. Meir, my boy! Don?t you recognize me? I?m your father?you?re hurting me?you?re killing your father! I?ve got some bread?for you too?for you too? (97). The other person killed his own father just for some food that his father was going to give him anyway. During the Holocaust, food was so scarce that a son would kill his own father just for some more food. The relationship between fathers and sons is a very important theme in Night. It can be the inspiration for survival but for others, survival for themselves costs them their relationship. This theme shows how cruel human beings can be. With the son beating and killing his own father, or the son abandoning his father so that he does not have to deal with him anymore. This theme can also show the beauty of the relationship, with Elie?s father being the reason Elie keeps on marching on their way to Gleiwitz. The Holocaust can change the way people are, very dramatically, making them very cruel and selfish.

Meaning and History of the Term Robber Baron

Meaning and History of the Term Robber Baron Robber Baron was a term applied to a businessman in the 19th century who engaged in unethical and monopolistic practices, utilized corrupt  political influence, faced almost no business regulation, and amassed enormous wealth. The term itself was not coined in the 1800s, but actually dated back centuries It was originally applied to noblemen in the Middle Ages who functioned as feudal warlords and were literally â€Å"robber barons.† In the 1870s the term began to be used to describe business tycoons, and the usage persisted throughout the rest of the 19th century. The late 1800s and the first decade of the 20th century are sometimes referred to as an age of robber barons. The Rise of Robber Barons As the United States transformed into an industrial society with little regulation of business, it was possible for small numbers of men to dominate crucial industries. Conditions which favored vast accumulations of wealth included the extensive natural resources being discovered as the country expanded, the enormous potential workforce of immigrants arriving in the country, and the general acceleration of business in the years following the Civil War. Railroad builders, in particular, needing political influence to build their railways, became adept at influencing politicians through the use of lobbyists, or in some cases, outright bribery. In the public mind, robber barons were often associated with political corruption. The concept of laissez faire capitalism, which dictated no government regulation of business, was promoted.  Facing few  impediments to creating  monopolies, engaging in  shady stock trading practices,  or exploiting workers, some individuals made enormous fortunes. Examples of Robber Barons As the term robber baron came into common usage, it was often applied to a small group of men. Notable examples were: Cornelius Vanderbilt, owner of steamship lines and railroads.Andrew Carnegie, steel manufacturer.J.P. Morgan, financier, and banker.John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil.Jay Gould, Wall Street trader.Jim  Fisk, Wall Street trader.Russell Sage, financier. The men who were called robber barons were often  portrayed in a positive light, as â€Å"self-made men† who had helped build the nation and in the process created many jobs for American workers. However, the public mood turned against them in the late 19th century. Criticism from newspapers and social critics began to find an audience. And American workers began to organize in great numbers as the labor movement accelerated. Events in labor history, such as the Homestead Strike and the Pullman Strike, intensified public resentment toward the wealthy. The conditions of workers, when contrasted with the lavish lifestyles of millionaire industrialists, created widespread resentment. Even other businessmen felt exploited by monopolistic practices as it was virtually impossible to compete in some fields. Common citizens became aware that monopolists could more easily exploit workers. There was even a public backlash against the lavish displays of wealth often exhibited by the very wealthy of the age. Critics noted the concentration of wealth as evil or weakness of society, and satirists, such as Mark Twain, derided the showiness of the robber barons as â€Å"the Gilded Age.† In the 1880s journalists such as Nellie Bly performed pioneering work exposing the practices of unscrupulous businessmen. And Blys newspaper, Joseph Pulitzers New York World, positioned itself as the newspaper of the people and often criticized wealthy businessmen. In 1894 the protest march by Coxeys Army drew enormous publicity to a group of protesters who often spoke out against a wealthy ruling class that exploited workers. And the pioneering photojournalist Jacob Riis, in his classic book How the Other Half Lives, helped to highlight the great gap between the wealthy and the suffering poor in New York Citys slum neighborhoods. Legislation Aimed at Robber Barons The public’s increasingly negative view of trusts, or monopolies, transformed into legislation with the passage of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1890. The law did not end the reign of robber barons, but it signaled that the era of unregulated business would be coming to an end. Over time, many of the practices of the robber barons would become illegal as further legislation sought to ensure  fairness in  American business. Sources: The Robber Barons.  Development of the Industrial U.S. Reference Library, edited by Sonia G. Benson, et al., vol. 1: Almanac, UXL, 2006, pp. 84-99. Robber Barons.  Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History, edited by Thomas Carson and Mary Bonk, vol. 2, Gale, 2000, pp. 879-880.

Chatter, Natter, and Patter

Chatter, Natter, and Patter Chatter, Natter, and Patter Chatter, Natter, and Patter By Mark Nichol Three coincidentally rhyming words that all serve as slang to describe idle and extensive talk are discussed in this post. To chatter is to talk quickly and/or casually, though the term also refers to any fast, high-pitched, or clicking sound, such as the involuntary striking of one’s upper and lower teeth in response to cold or fear. One who chatters in the sense of speaking is a chatterer, and the adjectival form is chattery, though both words are rarely used. However, chat is a common verb describing the action of informal conversation and a noun for the act itself, as well as, by extension, a term describing casual online correspondence (or the semblance of such when communicating with a business’s customer-service representative). One prone to chatting is chatty, and chit-chat is reduplicative slang for such a pastime. The pejorative phrase â€Å"chattering classes† was coined to refer to well-educated people who often express their sociopolitical views (other than one’s own); the sense has narrowed somewhat to apply to journalists, politicians, and academicians. The verb natter pertains to long, trivial conversation; in British English, the word is also a noun, but it is not employed as such in American English. Both chatter and natter are onomatopoeic (imitative of talking or other sounds), but patter, which has more nuanced definitions, also has a more complicated origin; it derives from pater, the first word in Latin of the Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Paternoster (â€Å"Our Father†). The often rapid-fire delivery of this prayer at the closing of church services inspired the slang word, which refers to quick speech, but with one of two specific connotations: either the stereotypical hard-sell verbal onslaught of a high-pressure salesperson, or a humorous, almost singsong delivery in light entertainment, such as the tongue-twisting torrents uttered by mid-twentieth-century comedian Danny Kaye or by performers in Gilbert and Sullivan light operas, written during the Victorian era. The near rhyme prattle, derived by way of prate from a Dutch word, is a synonym, as is tattle, though it more often refers to telling secrets or reporting on another’s misdeeds. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to use "on" and when to use "in"8 Proofreading Tips And TechniquesHow to Style Legislative Terms

Sport event reporting Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sport event reporting - Assignment Example und 177 countries all over the world with 3,000 coaches and 7,000 athletes are going to participate in this particular sports event (SWGLA 2015, 2015a) and that a total of 491 member delegation will represent the United States (Verrett, 2014). Next to the 1984 Olympic Games, the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2015 is considered as one of the biggest sports events in history (SWGLA 2015, 2015b). In preparation for the said sports competition, approximately more than 4.4 million sports athletes have already gone through tough trainings (Verrett, 2014). Recently, it was also reported that more than 500,000 people would attend as fans, spectators, and news reporters from ESPN and LA2015 (SWGLA 2015, 2015a, 2015b). Considering the volume of people who would attend the game, more than 30,000 people have already registered as volunteers to facilitate the event (SWGLA 2015, 2015a). Anticipated by millions of people worldwide, the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2015 will feature a maximum of 25 different Olympic sports including aquatics, athletics, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, bocce, bowling, cycling, equestrian, football, golf, gymnastics, half marathon, handball, Judo, kayaking, open water swimming, power lifting, roller skating, sailing, softball, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, and volleyball (SWGLA 2015, 2015c). Basically, the games are open and free to all interested parties who wish to attend (SWGLA 2015, 2015d). The official venues for the games are mostly concentrated in Griffith Park, Long Beach, and UCLA whereas some minor events will take place somewhere in Encino, USC, and Downtown (SWGLA 2015, 2015e). For instance, certain games will be held at the Convention Center and Lucky Strike LA Like in Downtown area whereas other games would be held in the Balboa Sports Center in Encino, Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Griffith Park, Alamitos Beach, Belmont Pier, and the Marine Stadium in Long Beach, Drake Stadium, Easton Stadium, Intramural

Amitav Ghosh's The Glass Palace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Amitav Ghosh's The Glass Palace - Essay Example Amitav Ghosh's "The Glass Palace" starts off in Burma in the year 1885, showing monarchy, at its last gasp at the hands of the British, through a stark contrast between the life of a penniless orphan who would later become rich and the unfortunate royal family with its luxurious graces to be condemned to downfall and destitution. The change of power is sudden, and dramatically affects the lives of those involved: "This is how power is eclipsed: in a moment of vivid realism, between the waning of one fantasy of governance and its replacement by the next, in an instant when the world springs free of its moorings of dreams and reveals itself to be girdled in the pathways of survival and self-preservation."But there is more; the sweeping saga that covers continents and generations in its span is at once a political and social commentary on colonialism, an epic tale of the dehumanizing effects of racism and dispossession. Also remarkably, it is a few family chronicles intertwined as a rom antic narrative of serendipitous meetings and reunions between more than a dozen characters.Rajkumar, the primary protagonist, is an orphan eleven-year-old stuck in Mandalay. An extremely resourceful boy, he is a survivor, a child with no relations who forges some as he goes along in the form of Saya John and his son, Matthew. He witnesses the tragic irony that marks the deposition of the King Thebaw and Queen Supayalat, and the subsequent loot of abode of the most venerated couple in the country at the hands of his simple, worshipful subjects who turn to robbery at the combined behest of desperation and unforeseen opportunity, and it is here he meets the memorable Dolly, the "most beautiful girl he had ever seen". Ghosh's depiction of the court are picturesque, painting a Burma of former glory and his description of the King's exile in its anguish and inevitability is almost lyrical, "He sat in one of the armchairs and watched the ghostly shadows of coconut palms swaying on the room's white plaster walls. In this room the hours would accumulate like grains of sand until they buried him." The story continues with the plight of the royal family in Ratnagiri, India, where Dolly is still taking care of the daughters. The family is under the protection of District Collector Dey, (who is somewhat of a motif for oppression by those who were not British, but served Britain nevertheless, a continuing theme in the novel) whose restless, intelligent and vivacious wife Uma befriends Dolly, to begin a relationship that would last a lifetime. Rajkumar, on the other hand remains with Saya John in Burma, where under his tutelage and support works in the lumber industry, because the British have turned their ravenous eyes on teak by this time, and there is much money to be made. Again here is an underlying theme of Indians and not the colonial Britishers being the direct agency of exploitation, because the Indians profited out of the business that drained Burma, a fact that does not escape the author's scathing notice. Rajkumar, after earning his riches sets off to find Dolly, and with some help from Uma, marries his first love. The rest of the novel spans the generations of connections between Rajkumar, Dolly, Saya John's family, and Uma's family against the backdrop of Burma, India, Malaya, New York and modern Myanmar. From the breed of those that worked within the confines of a British-ruled system, by harvesting teak and rubber using slave labor in order to build a prosperous family dynasty, like Rajkumar and Saya John, we come to a generation of those that are caught up in the dilemma between a British upbringing and education and the conscience that speaks to them of an independent India, like Uma's nephew, Arjun. Once widowed, Uma sets about traveling the world and gains radical views on India's independence. The ties between her and Dolly are further reinforced when her niece Manju marries Dolly's son Neel. Neel's brother, Dinu, meets and falls for Alison, the granddaughter of Saya John, who had taken Rajkumar under

Learning Activity Essay Example for Free

Learning Activity Essay Today by contemplating the corporate world we can realize that change is so very necessary for firms if they want to prosper. The market is changing so rapidly and technological advancement has created such hype that firms need to evolve from time to time. Researchers say that nowadays firms do not need to bring changes to get an edge over rival firms, but to survive. This itself defines the importance of change. However, just planning change is not important; smart execution is even more important. It includes the way management communicates the change, the way it handles employees’ reaction, the way it manages resistance to change, the way it deals with the after effects of it, and etcetera. These are very important issues that senior management focuses on. The following paragraphs will deal with two of these core issues, namely communicating change and managing change (Ian, Richard and Gib, 2009). Being the resort manager of Baderman Island, I will be very careful in rolling out this information to my employees as communicating the fact that they will be fired if customers continuously complain is a very sensitive issue. Firstly, I will try to explain them the problem, i.e., dissatisfaction of customers and then will discuss the reasons associated with it as put forward by customers. After this will ask for suggestions from them as I want them to feel that they are valued, which is sometimes known as underscore and explore strategy. Then company’s new policy will be disclosed smartly and the desired outcomes will also be floored. When communicating sensitive information like this, firms should give reasons behind the changes made and policies designed as employees have a right to know all about it. It should also be explained that how it will affect the organization and how important it is. If these things are taken care of then there is very less chance of resistance and negative reaction. Moreover, managing resistance to change is again a very important issue. If any resistance occurs concerning the changes in policies brought by Baderman Island’s management I will take care of it very carefully. Again I will use a democratic approach by getting involved in a dialogue with employees who resist. I will try to explain them what they mean to the firm and why has the firm decided to introduce this policy of firing employees due to bad performance. In addition to this, I will also explain the outcome of this policy and the positive effects it will have on the reputation of this firm. Sensible and potential employees will understand and for those who do not, I will use my authority to deal with them the harsh way. Furthermore, I will also help and facilitate employees who are worried about their job security by explaining them ways to satisfy customers and to improve their over all performance. In this way I will manage any resistance to the change. Reference: Palmer, Dunford and Akin (2009). Managing Organizational Change, McGraw Hill Publishers.

The Liberal Backbone of America :: essays research papers

The Liberal Backbone of America Within the framework of democratic capitalism, the American Constitution and government structure have a fundamentally liberal backbone. Viewed as a social contract, the relationship between the state and the individual is expressed in the Constitution which dictates the liberal values intrinsically woven into American history. Combined with the Bill of Rights, the Constitution holds the representative government accountable for its actions and sets finite limits on the power it wields over the individual. A capitalist society such as that of the United States uses taxation and wealth distribution as a tool for controlling social equality, an unavoidable hypocrisy of liberal values in a democratic welfare state. Classical liberal values that hold the individual’s rights as paramount have been modernised to accommodate a mildly paternalistic social welfare system.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Classical liberalism suggests that the state and society can be viewed as an immense social contract. In a liberal democratic country such as America, the constitution is the fundamental part of that social contract; it is a contract between the state and the civil society. The American constitution is a guide to legislation and its interpretation. An essentially liberal contract, the constitution binds not only the government, but also the people. Through the constitution, the people collectively commit to certain institutional procedures for managing public affairs and resolving social conflicts. The constitution not only limits the arbitrary power of the government, it also prevents public administration from being poisoned by people's short-term tempers and passions. Through the constitution, the people collectively commit to certain checks against those capricious human sentiments. A central liberal principle which the American constitution serves, is to limit and separate governmental power. The classically liberal distrust of majoritarian tyranny has continued into present-day American politics through its role in the Constitution. In a liberal constitutional system, there is an important difference between the constitution and ordinary laws. While ordinary laws can be modified or repealed to protect civil liberties by the national legislature, or be declared illegal or unconstitutional by the process of judicial review (Burns et al, 1993, p.21), the national legislature usually has no unilateral power to modify or repeal the constitution, and the judiciary has no power to declare the constitution illegal. For example, in the United States, the constitution can only be modified after the legislatures (or constitutional conventions) of two-thirds of the states approve, or by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress, followed by ratification from three-quar ters of the states or their ratification conventions (Burns et al, 1993, p.