Concentration of enzymes Essay

CONCLUSION: Based on the results obtained from the experiment it can be concluded that the concentration of enzymes influences the rate of a chemical reaction. If enzyme concentration is decreased then the reaction rate will also decrease. If there is sufficient enzyme to bind with substrate then the reaction will proceed fast and if there are insufficient enzymes present then the reaction will slow down DISCUSSION: It was predicted that with the increase of concentration of amylase solution, the time took to break down starch would decrease . This was proved correct , if basing on just these trials . The graph shows how with every single increase of the concentration , the amount of drops until the mixture fails to give a blue-black colour with iodine solution disappear decreased. This continually happened , without any outliers. The trend-line of the graph shows the predicted linear line in the relationship between concentration of amylase solution and the amount of drops until the mixture fails to give a blue-black colour with iodine solution. The amount of drops until the mixture fails to give a blue-black colour with iodine solution with a amylase concentration of 0.1% was found to be 12 drops, which was plotted on the graph. It can be presumed that a higher concentration of amylase is better because it does not take much time to break down the polysaccharide chains and a higher concentration helps to speed up this process. The amylase concentration of 0.1% took only 12 drops until the mixture fails to give a blue-black colour, while the amylase concentration of 0.05% took 21 drops , the amylase concentration of 0.025% took 24 drops and the amylase concentration of 0.01% took 28 drops. Because the purpose of an enzyme is to speed up a reaction, it is logical that amylase would have a higher concentration so it can take less time for it to do its purpose. At higher amylase concentration the time taken until the mixture fails to give a blue-black colour with iodine solution. Despite this, there are sources of error that need to be acknowledge. The trial proved difficult for some, sometimes yielding no results. Another source may be the mixing of the concentration.

Health or wealth, which is better ? Essay

God, and value it next to a good conscience: for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of. a blessing that money cannot buy†. – Izaak Walton These are words of wisdom and none would question their validity. But there are times when people do value money over health. When a person has been deprived of a thing for too long, he longs for it: and as money is the commodity most in demand people want money to fulfill their eeds. It can help rent or build a house. It can buy medicines, clothes, fruit and food: it can pay for the small pleasures of life as well as the big ones – from a cup of tea to a holiday abroad. Aesthetic and cultural enjoyment – tickets for the latest play, an evening at the opera, an expensive book, the latest L. P. – all these money alone can buy. There are far too many things which are out of the reach of the middle and the working classes. A good education, expensive sports and games like skating and golf, raveling in comfort, owning the gadgets which add comfort to life – these are things which people with limited incomes cannot buy. The unprecedented unemployment of the thirties was responsible for a great deal of human misery and resulted in the loss of self-respect and dignity. It also forced people to recognize the worth of money and resulted in a disproportionate attachment to the material world. There is no denying the value of money and the pleasure of enjoying it: but there are basic issues involved. If money can be got only after a huge amount of sacrifice, is it worth t? Is it really necessary for human beings to go on increasing their needs and temporary pleasures? Or would it be wiser to impose a self-restraint on one’s needs? People get so busy in getting money that they forget how to enjoy it. Engaged in getting money, man has no time for his family or his friends and at times no time even for his health. On the other hand, the pursuit of money may adversely affect both his physical and spiritual health. He may overcome his initial scruples in his desire for power and money. The question then is how much evil is Justified to get to he good. If one has to choose and even if there is no choice, health is better than wealth. A healthy person can look after not only himself but also others. He can be a useful member of society and of a family. He can be generous and sympathetic and be constructive in his thinking. An ailing person whether man or woman is a drain on others. And money can buy medicines, pay for a visit to a health resort or long hospitalization but it can neither buy health nor happiness. It is immaterial that a man can buy an expensive pair of shoes, if he has no shoes. Ultimately it is equally irrelevant whether a man is dressed up in the most expensive clothes, or drives the latest model of an expensive car. What is important is how good a human being he is. And for this he needs health. If he is healthy, his whole approach to life will be governed by this factor. Ask a man who has been through a long illness and an equally long spell of poverty and he will chose health. Money is the value of the man- made world – not of the world God created. Health is a god-given grace and let us be grateful for it.

Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Proposal - Essay Example As you said, the training would be done by you and not by others who quite frankly do not do it very well. Accordingly, our new brochures are being prepared. For instance, last year we spoke about my promotion to managerial position when we increased our sales team, if you would consider this to be now, then, I would propose that advertising ideas be done by someone like the person we previously met or alternately, it can be done by someone else who could do a good job, you or I could easily oversee and handle without any doubt. Then, between Brad, Robert and I, we could handle further duties. However, someone needs to steer the ship and be authoritative, since we need to introduce more decorum in the office. Because of these new demands, I have no problem with hiring or firing, I know it could get personal but if it is detrimental to the company, I have no alternative but to fire the underperforming person. When in business, I do not have an allegiance to anyone that is not performing well enough to satisfy the numbers we have projected. We also need to make sure we have people on a reserve basis so as not to have empty desks. To do this is not difficult, because there is a steady flow of talent available and we can interview and have back up without any problem. The need to obtain new accounts should be imperative, encouraged and propelled to the forefront with expected consequence. A new way of selling bullion is not difficult to do, we need to crush some numbers with Wilshire and rebook at a reasonable cost and selling prices, and this would bring us in line to compete with other companies. For us to be able to sell the Internet calls we get, this gives us the ability to get them into our fold for loads and conversion which is imperative for our long term goal and hence increase revenue of our company. When the going gets

System of Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

System of Government - Essay Example In the view of the aforesaid all the states by the system of government are divided in monarchies and republics. In the given essay the republican form of board will be considered. Republic is the system of government, according to which the higher authority in the state belongs to elective bodies: to parliament and to president, which carry out the control over the government, there is also an independent justice and institutions of local governing. The republican system of government was generated in the Athenian state. In the process of development of public life it changed, got new features, was more and more filled with the democratic essence. Parliamentary republic is a version of the modern system of the state government when the supreme role in the organization of the state life belongs to parliament. In such republic the government is formed by parliamentary method from among the deputies belonging to those parties, who have the majority of voices in parliament. The government bears collective responsibility before the parliament. The government remains in power till they possess the majority in parliament. In case of loss of trust of the majority members of parliament the government or retires, or with the help of the head of the state achieves the dissolution of parliament and prescheduled parliamentary elections. As a rule, the head of the state in such republics is selected by the parliament or specially created parliamentary board. Appointment of the head of the state by the parliament is the main kind of the parliamentary control over executive authority. The procedure of election of the head of the state in modern parliamentary republics is not the same. In Italy for example the members of both Houses select the president of republic at their joint session, but thus in elections participate three deputies from each region. In federative states participation of parliament in election of the head of the state, is also divided with representatives of members of federation. So in Germany the president is elected by the federal assembly consisting from members of the Bundestag, and the same number of the persons chosen by landtags on the basis of proportional representation.

The Portrayal of Judaism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Portrayal of Judaism - Essay Example Nevertheless the Greek culture had a great influence on the religious beliefs of the Jews. Due to the massive armies of Ptolemy and Seleucids, the Jews of Judea always remained subordinate to them and hence their powerful cultures had a great impact on the Jews and slowly they were forced to imbibe some of their concepts which were forced upon them. The Jews faithfully believed in life after death, stellar immortality and the immortality of ones soul after death. Prior to the Hellenistic period, the concept of afterlife the Jews had was a dark existence they referred to as â€Å"Sheol†. As it states in psalm 6 - â€Å"Turn, O Lord, save my life...For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who can give you praise?†. (Psalm 6: 4-5) But the modern Jews believed in Both Heaven and Hell. They believed that after death God would judge the actions of a person – by rewarding the good and punishing the evil. The Daily Express of London written on 24th of March, 1933 carried these headlines –â€Å" "Judea Declares War on Germany - Jews of All the World Unite - Boycott of German Goods - Mass Demonstrations." The Express also said that Germany was â€Å"now confronted with an international boycott of its trade, its finances, and its industry†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦In London, New York, Paris, and Warsaw, Jewish businessmen are united to go on an economic crusade.† (The Daily Express, 1933) This could be described as the first fatal turn of events towards the war. â€Å"The war against Germany will be waged by all Jewish communities, conferences, congresses... by every individual Jew. Thereby the war against Germany will ideologically enliven and promote our interests, which require that Germany be wholly destroyed.† (Natscha Retsch, 1933) Another primary factor that played a pivotal role in the war was the desire to set up a National Socialist ideology in Germany. As was written in Journal of Palestine Studies ("The Secret Contacts: Zionism and Nazi Germany, 1933-1941";

Analysis of Stock Option in Bristol Myers Squibb Thesis

Analysis of Stock Option in Bristol Myers Squibb - Thesis Example It also uses them to decrease the turnover of the human capital in the organization. An analysis of the organization’s stock options policy reveals information that is promising for investors and the concerned stakeholders. The organization has been using stock options as a large part of their compensation at the executive level. Employees after meeting the criteria set by the organization are allowed to own options and exercise them over a period of 10 years. ESO allows the employees to hold stock options below the market price. The sound corporate governance policy requires that the board meeting and the shareholder’s meeting can decide upon the re-pricing of the options and this cannot take place without the approval of the concerned. The company has been able to decrease the moral hazard relating to the issue of stock options and has provided huge incentives to its employees apart from cash compensation. The morale of the employees is all time high due to the compensation package that they are offered. The company is looking forward to striking maj or deals and re-establishing its name as a bio-pharmaceutical in the world. ESO carry a moral hazard with them, if properly implemented, with sound accounting policies implemented throughout the organization; it is bound to create success for the organization and its employees. Disclosure of proper information increases accountability on the part of management and restricts them from any incorrect actions that they might take. They can be used to decrease moral hazard, increase employee motivation and increase market efficiencies. BMS, with the help of sound corporate governance policies has effectively handled to issue of stock options, taking all the advantages that they possibly can. 16 The paper is organized to provide a basic understanding of how the Employee Stock Option (ESO) works in a Bristol Myers Squibb

Review of What Management Is Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Review of What Management Is - Essay Example Management has been the key to innovation for success in the past as well as the present. It contains such principles which are jargon-free. She studied how different people work together and emphasized all ideas for effective management should be transmitted into action to get better performance. This theory was supported on the basis of case studies considering dell, for hospitals etc. only such people should be hired in the organization who have capabilities to deal with challenging situations. Management is not only used in business, nowadays management is required for every work. For instance, if one has made choice in any decision or it is related to the community, one should first know the definition of management and should also identify both good as well as bad aspects. In an organization, managers have limited resources they should be able to manage those in accordance with the requirement. In order to become a manager, no training is needed i.e. normally many managers do not possess any formal diploma in management, rather a diploma doesn’t prove that a person is a good manager (Magretta Joan 15). Managers work efficiently only because they have work pressure because of which they prefer to work in teams, find the quick solution to the problems and try to make an effective decision in a short time. To be a manager is the most critical job compared to other professions. Managers are the sole person who helps us identify whether social institutions are serving us properly or not. So one should band the tradition of thinking of a managerial work, in spite should adopt it in practice so that difficult problems can be solved and performance can be improved further (Mintzberg Henry  165).  

Small Businesses are Entrepreneurship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Small Businesses are Entrepreneurship - Essay Example The paper presents arguments in favor of this statement and attempts to explore various dimensions of this statement. Discussion To define, â€Å"entrepreneurship is the capacity and willingness to undertake conception, organization, and management of a productive venture with all attendant risks, while seeking profit as a reward† (Hatten, pp. 148-149, 2011). A glance at all other definitions of entrepreneurship will verify the fact that entrepreneurship, entrepreneur of entrepreneurial spirit is seen in line, primarily, with the elements of innovation and risk taking. Without any doubts, large sized companies and organizations create mechanisms and systems to diversify and decrease their risk over the period (Hatten, pp. 148-149, 2011) of time; however, small businesses are the ones that face great deal of uncertainty and ambiguity on a daily basis. Lack of abundant resources, limited funds, threat of competition, limited production capacity, narrow customer base, constraints in terms of conducting marketing research and others are factors that present challenges and risks to small business which are shared by almost all small businesses as well. Almost half of the new ventures and small businesses in UK and US fail in the first year, which is another proof and manifestation of the uncertainty that is faced by the small business and entrepreneurial ventures (Down, pp. 20-21, 2010). One can consider small businesses as examples of entrepreneurship because they share of the element of ‘need of constant innovation† with other entrepreneurial ventures. Important here to note is that this does not necessarily imply that large businesses can survive without innovation but the fact is that large businesses can delay innovation by using the other resources, competitive advantages and competencies at their disposal (Scarborough, Wilson & Zimmerer, pp. 41-42, 2010). When companies grow big, they develop a loyal customer base and develop other mechanis ms to retain customers. Their buyers associate certain level of quality with them and at least, with certain products and services, the buyers face certain switching costs due to which may hold the customers with the company for a longer period (Bridge, O'Neill & Cromie, pp. 263, 2003). Furthermore, when companies grow big, they either outsource the tasks of innovation or create separate departments for the same, and provide them with enough funding to experiment and keep an eye on the changing market trends. In case of both small businesses and entrepreneurs, there are no separate departments for research and development but the owner and the employees themselves must take out the time for coming up with new ideas and testing them thus creating a unique challenge for them (Lee-Ross & Lashley, pp. 52-53, 2011). Not only that constant innovation is a difficult task for small businesses but also at the same time, they need innovation more desperately than large companies do. As mentio ned earlier that large companies with their huge loyal customer base can survive in the market for quite some time since they have other factors to attract their customers; however, in case of small businesses and entrepreneurial ventures, innovation is all that they have to attract and retain their customers (Allen & Meyer, pp. 63-68, 2005). Most small businesses

Critical Analysis of the Nature of Gender Differences in Communication Essay

Critical Analysis of the Nature of Gender Differences in Communication - Essay Example In addition, the way that men and women adapt to others whose communication methods are different in order to achieve their communication goals. One non-verbal element of communication that can often be seen is the concept of confirmation. This is the process of acknowledge that someone exists and that the communicator is aware of that existence. This is often achieved by the nod of the head, a handshake, smile, or eye contact. A verbal indication of confirmation is a greeting such as a simple â€Å"hello†. This type of communication demonstrates respect and is often used as an attempt to gain trust from another person. We can see how men and women respond differently to this type of communication by looking at the first scene of the Modern Family episode. The theme of the situation comedy is that the family supports the other members even when they don’t agree on the actions of the family member, and even if they don’t believe that an endeavor will work. They co mmunicate their support in a secondary way through nonverbal cues as well as verbal advice. The characters in the family represent the stereotypical characters for the most part, but three members of the family stand out from the rest. There are two gay guys and a Latin Woman present in the show, who has a son with Jay in the show. Gloria, the Latina, has a thick Spanish accent and dresses like a Flamenco dancer almost, she is the prototype of a hot Latin woman, wearing bold colors and low cut dresses with high heels. Since the essay is about the difference between men and women and how they communicate, parts of the essay will focus on how she communicates in certain situations with her husband and other men. When Claire sees Dwayne, the town councilman standing outside a grocery store campaigning for reelection, she calls him â€Å"jerk† and â€Å"phony† in a low voice to her husband because Dwayne did not accept her proposal to put in a stop sign on her street. On t he other hand, the councilman who is running for office shows a big sign of the element of confirmation by warmly saying hello and shaking the husbands hand and asking for his vote. The husband immediately responds with eye contact and a smile saying that he will vote for the man. Meanwhile, Claire keeps reverting her glance away from the councilman, and indicator that men are more straightforward when communicating in person, while women are more self-aware. When Claire finally introduces herself, she announces that they have met before implying that the man should remember the encounter. After a few seconds, the man does remember and once again refutes her original request, keeping a smile on his face the entire time as if smiling is all it will take to win him the election. The man fails to acknowledge her request, responding that everyone asks for the same thing, but that’s not really what people want. This frustrates Claire even more and as she walks away, the issue for her is clearly not solved and her trust in the councilman has diminished even further. This is a great example of how men and women respond differently to confirmation efforts in communication. For the husband, the nonverbal cues were enough to satisfy him and increase his faith in the councilman, but for Claire, the use of non-verbal cues and the lack of verbal confirmation only served to lessen her faith in the coun

Introduction to Philosophy Essay Example for Free

Introduction to Philosophy Essay 1. What are the main branches of philosophy? Do philosophers have the same answers to the same philosophical questions? Why? Philosophy is a way of thinking about the big questions in life, from the existence of men to its morality. It is an activity which sharpens our reason. The word was coined by Greeks , meaning â€Å"the love of wisdom†. Philosophy can be divided into six big issues it is interested with. * First, the question about the nature of the world and the existence of Men which is under the domain of Metaphysics or also called Ontology. From the word â€Å"meta† which means beyond and â€Å"physics† which means physical it deals about beyond physical world- the spiritual. It also attempt to answer the ultimate reality of life, our reason of very existence, Who and what God is and, how everything relates to it. * Second, what are the right ways to think and build arguments which is under the field of Logic. It tries to distinguish the valid reasons from the fallacies. It also examines the different general forms that argument may take. It is primarily studied in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and science. * Third, How do we know and how do we think we know which is under the area of Epistemology. From the Greek words †episteme† which means knowledge and â€Å"logia† which means study, it basically deals on how do we acquire knowledge and what is the basis for true knowledge. * Fourth, Ethics which generally centers on the morality of our actions. It differentiates wrong from right and studies character’s actions based in his intentions. This field of Philosophy is vital and applied to other disciplines such as business, medicine, science, robotics, and education. * Fifth, Issues about laws, liberty, rights, property and , politics fall under the Political Philosophy. It is also one of the sub-fields of Political Science. Its purpose is to lay bare the fundamental problems and concepts which frames the study of Politics. It also studies the great thinkers of the past which shapes politics such as Socrates, Plato, Adam Smith and Hobbes. * Lastly, Aesthetics which deals on what is beautiful. Mainly it tries to answer questions which deals in art- music, painting, poetry, and such. It attempts to distinguish what is beautiful, what has taste, and what has artistic value. Philosophy can also be subdivided into three specific categories which are, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Language, and Philosophy of Science. These are branches which deal to questions their respective field of subject matters such as what exactly is a mind? how does language work? and Does science has responsibility to humanity? An Educator can ask a question to his students and would receive different responses . We can even expect complex answers to a simple question. It is because people view things in different perspectives, have different degree of intelligence, exposed to different environment, influenced by different people and ideas, and have personal insights and experiences which differ from one person to another. People thoughts varies and no idea can be of an exact match of another. In my opinion, Humans’ mind are like his fingerprint, We all have our fingerprints but its design- the curves and lines is unique in each individual. There might be similarities in ideas between individuals but in some point they contradict. For example, the two famous philosophers, John Locke and Thomas Hobbes both support the â€Å"Social Contract Theory† in which men enter a mutual agreement to surrender some of their liberty to authority in return of protection, both also, believe that men can exist without government and speak of its dangers in this kind of state-State of Nature. For Hobbes, the entire time that man is in a state of nature, he is in a state of war. He states that â€Å"if any two men cannot enjoy the same thing, they become enemies and in the way to their end†¦. endeavor to destroy or subdue one another† (Wootton, 158). Locke too points out risks, saying that without the â€Å"law of nature† everyone may execute decisions, leading to a state of war (Wootton, 290). However, despite of the similarities, Locke believes that people enter to social contract to seek peace and avoid the fear of death and living in State of Nature is brutish and chaotic while Hobbes believes that State of Nature is important and do exist in some ways such as among governments and leaders. Locke’s view on State of Nature is pessimistic in contrast to Hobbes which he thinks has some potential benefits. Philosophers do not have the same answer to a certain question. Each philosopher present different examples and take different stand on a certain idea. 2. Why has philosophy lost importance in the priorities of contemporary man? Philosophy had the paramount role during the ancient education. It created great and wise thinkers such as Socrates, Plato, and, Seneca and influenced bright minds such as Descartes, Adam Smith, and Karl Marx. Although the subject Philosophy is only introduce in higher level of studies in modern years, it diffuses its idea and being applied to core subjects such as mathematics, science, and language. Philosophy is still vital in learning until today. The decreasing value given in philosophy arises in the way modern man receive and gather information. Core subjects like Science should teach us to Inquire, to Analyze, to Think, and to Search- which are roles of philosophy but, Educators and with the convenience at reach, Students are being spoon-fed with facts from books and other resource materials instead of encouraging them to explore. They are bound with rules and regulations without giving them a chance to ask why they should follow orders. Students fail to analyze things because most Educators present facts and inculcate it to them through rote memorization instead of validating it. Learners learn facts but never learn to reason. They become man of knowledge but never become man of substance. The decreasing importance of philosophy in modern days is ascribed partly, to us Educators for failing to emphasize and apply its essence to the students. We teach the students to be dependent on the facts provided in books and internet, for we believe that it offers a vast amount of information forgetting that one’s mind can offer limitless insights on a certain topic. 3. Why should philosophy be restored to its former prominence in the priorities of contemporary man? Philosophy is vital in man’s learning and improvement. Giving answers to man’s most perplexed questions or even to the simplest question that bother us gives us sense of satisfaction and purpose in life. In modern times, Philosophy is essential in choosing decisions that has impact on our future such as career path, religion, core beliefs, and even to work or business. Philosophy should never be undermine and be restricted to as a mere subject. It is a way of thinking and essential in making a wise decision hence, should be integrated in daily living. 4. How does western philosophy differ from the eastern? In General, Western Philosophy promotes individualism and more interested in finding and validating the truth while Eastern Philosophy is more interested in finding the balance within ones self in order to live in harmony with others and thus promoting collectivism. Also, East philosophy which emerged in China is spiritual in nature as opposed to West which starts from Greece is naturalistic and subject to research. Individualism of the West gives meaning to the worth a person as an individual. It gives stress on liberty and self-reliance. â€Å"Man is directly a natural being. As a natural being and as a living natural being he is on the one hand endowed with natural powers, vital powers — he is an active natural being. These forces exist in him as tendencies and abilities — as instincts. On the other hand, as a natural, corporeal, sensuous objective being he is a suffering, conditioned and limited creature, like animals and plants. A being which does not have its nature outside itself is not a natural being, and plays no part in the system of nature. A being which has no object outside itself is not an objective being. â€Å" Marx, Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy in General (1844). â€Å"Self-expression is individuality, and our individuality is our self, which ought to be our chief concern† Ernest Dimnet (1928) The Art of Thinking p. 250 â€Å"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. † Henry David Thoreau, Walden: Or, Life in the Woods (1854), chapter 18, p. 210. Collectivism of the East emphasizes the interdependence of individual among others. â€Å"If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself. † â€Å"Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts? † Confucius â€Å"A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. † â€Å"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. † Lao Tzu â€Å"The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence. † Rabindranath Tagore.

Research on Effects of Sibling Birth on Jealousy

Research on Effects of Sibling Birth on Jealousy The Birth of a Sibling: Companion or Competition? Samantha A. Sang Sibling relationships that develop a balance of nurturance and conflict can provide numerous learning opportunities for young children (Volling, McElwain, Miller, 2002). For instance, children can learn other’s perspectives, learn different strategies to resolve conflict, as well as learn to regulate their own emotions. Specifically, younger siblings who experience a balance of nurturance and conflict in their sibling relationships have been found to be more socially skilled and have more positive peer relationships compared with children who lack the sibling experience (Volling et al., 2002).Thus, it is not the absence of conflict rather how conflict is resolved that benefits the quality of a sibling relationship. Sibling conflict refers to the â€Å"unique interpersonal dyadic dynamics of sibling interactions, which may be motivated by, but not synonymous with sibling jealousy† (Volling et. al., 2002). It is well-known that parents cannot attend and respond to both c hildrens needs at all times; thus, jealousy could very well be a normal, perhaps daily, experience for young children. Older siblings are often thought of as â€Å"leaders, managers, and teachers† of their younger siblings during critical periods of development (e.g., preschool, middle-childhood; Kolak, Volling, 2011). Moreover, older siblings are the more dominant person in the sibling relationship and can exert more influence on the sibling relationship throughout childhood. Previous research has shown that older siblings’ behavior toward their younger siblings is more stable from preschool through middle childhood than younger siblings’ behavior toward their older siblings (Kolak, Volling, 2011). This stability, along with the more dominant role of older siblings, may explain why older siblings’ jealousy reactions are stronger predictors of the sibling relationship quality many years later (Kolak, Volling, 2011). Sibling Jealousy Jealousy is a complex social emotion. Complex because it is not simply a single emotional expression, but rather a patterned response of emotional affect, behavior, and cognitive appraisal (Volling, Yu, Gonzalez, Kennedy, Rosenberg, Oh, 2014). Intense debates have occurred among scholars in regards to the distinction between jealousy and envy; whether jealousy is a simple, complex, or blended emotion; and whether it is caused by threats to self-esteem or threats to a valued relationship (White and Mullen, 1989). Although different perspective exist, it is pivotal to understand that jealousy cannot be defined nor understood without reference to a social context (Volling, McElwain, Miller, 2002). Specifically, jealousy occurs in the context of a social triangle (White and Mullen, 1989). There are three dyadic relationships within the triangle in addition to the triadic relationship system: (a) the relationship between the jealous individual and the beloved, (b) the relationship between the beloved and the rival, and (c) the relationship between the jealous individual and the rival (White Mullen, 1989). In order to elicit jealousy, the relationship between the jealous person and the beloved must be a valued close relationship (e.g., mother-child). Furthermore, jealousy is elicited by the real or perceived loss of this relationship to a rival. It is not simply the loss of love that elicits jealousy; it is the loss of attention from the beloved to a rival (White Mullen, 1989). Hupka (1984) has shown that individuals in jealousy eliciting situations can feel a range of emotions including fear, anger, or even relief, depending on the individuals focus of attention with respect to the social triangle. For example, if individuals focus on the loss of the relationship, sadness may be reported; whereas, if individuals focus on the betrayal of their beloved, anger may be reported; and lastly, if individuals focus on being left alone, anxiety or fear may be reported (Hupka, 1984). Birth of a Sibling Elicits Sibling Jealousy The birth of a sibling can be a stressful life event for young children; consequently, firstborn children are likely to experience jealousy at the arrival of their infant sibling (Volling et. al., 2014). Past research indicates that young children are sensitive to the loss of attention to another. First, toddler and preschool children were aware of the interactions occurring between their mother and their sibling and often times, would try to disrupt the ongoing interaction (Dunn, 1988). Second, studies that addressed childhood jealousy have demonstrated that children as young as 1 year of age were sensitive to maternal attention directed toward an infant-size doll, a newborn infant or an unfamiliar peer (Volling et. al., 2002). So, it is not surprising that young children are aware of the loss of attention when a parent turns his or her attention from them and interacts with their infant sibling and this awareness elicits jealousy (Volling et. al., 2002). Jealousy can differ for individuals depending on their cognitive appraisal of the jealousy eliciting situation when they believe their relationship with their beloved is threatened by the rival (Kolak Volling, 2011). For instance, a child may appraise the infant sibling as a threat to their own mother-child relationship, feel anxious, and interfere in the mother–infant interaction, or a child may appraise their mother as inaccessible, feel sadness, and withdraw from the mother-infant interaction. The firstborn’s jealousy toward their infant sibling can impact their sibling relationship quality later in development. Children’s initial reactions three weeks after their sibling’s birth predicted their behavior with their mother and sibling at 14 months (Kendrick Dunn, 1982). For instance, children who were demanding and difficult shortly after their sibling’s birth protested the mother–sibling interaction more compared to children who positively approached their infant sibling (Kendrick Dunn, 1982). Moreover, children who were initially withdrawn were more likely to develop poor sibling relationships over time (Kendrick Dunn, 1982). Attachment as a Potential Moderator The Strange Situation (SS) is â€Å"a videotaped laboratory based procedure that consists of seven three-minute episodes including two parent–child separations and reunions† (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, Wall, 1978). Individual differences in infants’ attachment relationships can be classified as secure or insecure. Attachment classifications are based on the child’s ability to balance proximity and exploration and to obtain comfort when distressed from their mother (Ainsworth et. al., 1978). Not only do physical separations from mothers in the SS activate attachment behaviors, but so too does the child’s appraisal of their mother’s accessibility when caring for their infant sibling. The birth of a sibling may create disruptions in the relationship between the mother and her firstborn child that can lead to instability in their attachment relationship (Touris, Kromelow, Harding, 1995). Bowlby (1969) acknowledged that for most young children, â€Å"the mere sight of mother holding another baby in her arms is enough to elicit strong attachment behavior†. So, it is understandable that many of the behaviors associated with jealousy (e.g., clinging, touching, proximity seeking, and distress) are also attachment behaviors (Volling et. al., 2014). From an attachment perspective, children who have a secure attachment to their mother should explore freely, even when their mother is interacting with their infant sibling. They may monitor their mother’s whereabouts or the mother-infant interactions, but they should not disrupt the interaction. Whereas, insecurely attached children will cry and protest in response to their mother’s interactions with the ir infant sibling. They will stay in close proximity to their mother and may even physically interfere with the mother-infant interactions (Volling et. al., 2014). If witnessing the mother–infant interaction adequately engages attachment behaviors, then individual differences in children’s jealousy may reflect their internal working models of their attachment relationship with their mothers. The quality of sibling interaction has been related to the mother-child attachment relationship. Children who were insecurely attached to their mothers at 12 months of age were more aggressive in their conflicts with their younger sibling when they were 6-years-old (Volling et. al., 2014). On the other hand, Teti and Ablard (1989) found that more secure preschoolers were significantly more likely to react to their younger sibling’s distress than less securely attached preschoolers. Emotion Regulation as a Potential Moderator Early attachment relationships play a primary role in the development of young children’s emotion regulation development (Volling, 2001). Children whose mothers are sensitive and consistent to their children’s needs not only develop secure attachments to their mothers, but are also thought to develop a greater capacity to share affect, to enjoy social interactions, to maintain organized behavior during an emotionally arousing event, and to display empathy for others (Volling, 2001). In contrast, children whose emotional needs are repeatedly rejected by their mothers are more likely to develop insecure attachments and are also more likely to develop poor regulatory strategies whereby they minimize attention to their attachment relationship and minimize their emotional expressiveness (Volling, 2001). These children may become physiologically aroused in the face of stress, but may also remain expressionless so that they do not risk further rejection and anger on the part o f the mother (Volling, 2001). Emotion regulation consists of the extrinsic and intrinsic processes responsible for monitoring, evaluating, and modifying emotional reactions, especially their intensive and temporal features, to accomplish ones goals† (Thompson, 1994). Even though this definition emphasizes both internal and external processes, Campos and colleagues (1994) revealed that past research that examines emotion regulation focuses on the internal processes and rarely considers the external factors that may contribute to emotion regulation. Studies investigating the process of emotion regulation should include â€Å"the social context that elicited the need for regulation in the first place and that specifies the rules of proper conduct† (Campos, 1994). Specifically because jealousy cannot be fully understood without reference to the social context, it is pivotal to examine children’s emotion regulation skills as a potential moderator between the birth of a sibling and firstborn’ s feelings of jealousy. Young children have several regulatory strategies that can be utilized in jealousy eliciting situations. Three possible regulatory strategies that might be used by toddler and preschool siblings when confronted with jealousy are (a) to interfere with the interaction between their mother and sibling, (b) to direct anger toward either their mother or sibling, and/or (c) to focus attention on alternative pleasurable activities (i.e., play; Volling et. al., 2014). Children who successfully cope to distress in jealousy eliciting situations engage in self-focused, exploratory play while monitoring the mother-infant interaction rather than protesting or physically interfering (Volling et. al., 2014). Firstborn children who were highly dysregulated during jealousy eliciting situations are at an increased risk for expressing more negative affect. Furthermore, children’s inability to regulate their jealousy may be suggestive of poor emotion regulation skills, which may, in turn, be detrimental to sibling relationship quality (Kolak Voling, 2011). In contrast, firstborn children who are better regulated (i.e. better able to regulate their jealousy) appear to have the essential emotion regulation skills for engaging positively with their siblings (Kolak Voling, 2011). Children’s ability to regulate emotions during jealousy eliciting situations is a critical component for successful relationships with their sibling (Kolak Voling, 2011). But, little is known about children’s ability to regulate emotions during jealousy eliciting situations and its impact on the quality of the sibling relationship later in development. The only support is from Kolak and Volling (2011) that found that jealousy and dysregulation is related to more troubled sibling interactions two years later. The Current Study The current study is a longitudinal design that will address three aims: (a) to examine if the birth of a sibling elicits jealousy in the firstborn child, (b) to examine if the firstborn’s jealousy of their infant sibling is related to their sibling relationship quality five years later, and finally, (c) to examine if the firstborn’s attachment and emotion regulation moderates the relationship between the birth of a sibling and jealousy (Figure 1). Prior research on the birth of a sibling has described some children as clingy, anxious-withdrawn, or oppositional after the birth (Volling et. al., 2014), so we hypothesized that (a) children who have a secure attachment with their mother before the birth of their sibling will not experience as much jealousy as insecurely attached children, and (b) children who demonstrate better emotion regulation skills will not experience as much jealousy as less emotionally regulated children. Due to individual differences, different pat terns of jealousy and its impact on sibling relationship quality will emerge five years later. References Ainsworth, M.D.S., Blehar, M.C., Waters, E., Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment. New York, NY: Basic Books. Buist, K. L., Paalman, C. H., Branje, S. J. T., DekoviĆ¡, M., Reitz, E., Verhoeven, M., Meeus, W. H. J., Koot, H. M, Hale,William W., I.,II. (2014). Longitudinal effects of sibling relationship quality on adolescent problem behavior: A cross-ethnic comparison.Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology,20(2), 266-275. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0033675 Campos, J., Mumme, D. L., Kermoian, R., Campos, R.(1994). Commentary: A functionalist perspective on the nature of emotion. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 59(2-3, Serial No. 240). Dunn, J. (1988). The beginnings of social understanding. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Hupka, R. B. (1984). Jealousy: Compound emotion or label for a particular situation? Motivation and Emotion, 8, 141-155. Kendrick, C., Dunn, J. (1982). Protest or pleasure? The response of first-born children to interactions between their mothers and infant siblings. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 23, 117-129. Kolak, A. M., Volling, B. L. (2011). Sibling jealousy in early childhood: longitudinal links to sibling relationship quality. Infant Child Development, 20(2), 213-226. doi:10.1002/icd.690 Teti, D. M., Ablard, K. E. (1989). Security of attachment and infant–sibling relationships: A laboratory study. Child Development, 60, 1519–1528. doi:10.2307/1130940 Thompson, R. A. (1994). Emotion regulation: A theme in search of definition. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development 59(2-3, Serial No. 240). Touris, M., Kromelow, S., Harding, C. (1995). Mother-firstborn attachment and the birth of a sibling.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry,65(2), 293-297. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0079614 Volling, B. L. (2001). Early attachment relationships as predictors of preschool childrens emotion regulation with a distressed sibling.Early Education and Development,12(2), 185-207. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15566935eed1202_2 Volling, B. L., Yu, T., Gonzalez, R., Kennedy, D. E., Rosenberg, L., Oh, W. (2014). Children’s responses to mother–infant and father–infant interaction with a baby sibling: Jealousy or joy?Journal of Family Psychology,28(5), 634-644. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0037811 Volling, B. L., Yu, T., Gonzalez, R., Kennedy, D. E., Rosenberg, L., Oh, W. (2014). Children’s responses to mother–infant and father–infant interaction with a baby sibling: Jealousy or joy?Journal of Family Psychology,28(5), 634-644. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0037811 White, G. L., Mullen, P. E. (1989). Jealousy: Theory, research, and clinical strategies. New York: Guilford Press. Figure 1.

Gay Rights Essays -- Homosexual Rights, Homophobia, Gays

Do you think homosexuals deserve the same rights we (straight people) do? People having homophobia, and people who discriminate against gays, make it very hard for homosexuals to live in peace. People all over the world have their different views on whether or not homosexuals should have rights, and with that many people who are mean, judgmental, and discriminate against homosexuals. Most homosexuals cannot be themselves and cannot â€Å"come out of the closet,† because of the mean actions that come from other people and communities around them. Homosexuals should have the same rights as â€Å"straight† people do, because they are human beings just like everyone else. Everyday, more and more homosexuals get discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation. In 1993, 11,000 service members were discharged under the â€Å"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell† policy that’s bans gays and lesbians the right to serve openly. There were nearly 11,000 specialists with extremely important skills like; Arabic linguists for example, have been forced out of the military, meaning millions of tax payer dollars spent on military training have gone to waste. The armed forces have spent about 22,000 dollars to about 43,000 dollars to replace each individual discharged under the â€Å" Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell† policy, and the discharges still continue today even with all the money that is being wasted on training the people (Conant 1). Homosexuals that are or were serving in the armed forces are in there to protect our country and everyone in it, including their families. They are fighting to keep our country sa fe and so we can keep our independence, and all the military leaders care about it their personal life, something as silly as to telling them who t... ...ving mother, and can be thrown into the foster-care system (Alvear and Cameron 2). These are all examples that will hurt the emotional status of a child that is in the situation of having homosexual parents that are not married. There are more than half a million children growing up in a home with same-sex parents, that mostly were not able to married, also meaning a half a million children growing up with serious disadvantages than other children with (married) heterosexual parents, caused by prohibition of same-sex marriages and discrimination towards homosexual relationships (Alvear and Cameron 2). There is only one solution to solve this problem that homosexuals have is to give them the same rights everyone else has. I believe that if we give homosexuals the same rights that everyone else has, then our world would be a much safer and happier place. Gay Rights Essays -- Homosexual Rights, Homophobia, Gays Do you think homosexuals deserve the same rights we (straight people) do? People having homophobia, and people who discriminate against gays, make it very hard for homosexuals to live in peace. People all over the world have their different views on whether or not homosexuals should have rights, and with that many people who are mean, judgmental, and discriminate against homosexuals. Most homosexuals cannot be themselves and cannot â€Å"come out of the closet,† because of the mean actions that come from other people and communities around them. Homosexuals should have the same rights as â€Å"straight† people do, because they are human beings just like everyone else. Everyday, more and more homosexuals get discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation. In 1993, 11,000 service members were discharged under the â€Å"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell† policy that’s bans gays and lesbians the right to serve openly. There were nearly 11,000 specialists with extremely important skills like; Arabic linguists for example, have been forced out of the military, meaning millions of tax payer dollars spent on military training have gone to waste. The armed forces have spent about 22,000 dollars to about 43,000 dollars to replace each individual discharged under the â€Å" Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell† policy, and the discharges still continue today even with all the money that is being wasted on training the people (Conant 1). Homosexuals that are or were serving in the armed forces are in there to protect our country and everyone in it, including their families. They are fighting to keep our country sa fe and so we can keep our independence, and all the military leaders care about it their personal life, something as silly as to telling them who t... ...ving mother, and can be thrown into the foster-care system (Alvear and Cameron 2). These are all examples that will hurt the emotional status of a child that is in the situation of having homosexual parents that are not married. There are more than half a million children growing up in a home with same-sex parents, that mostly were not able to married, also meaning a half a million children growing up with serious disadvantages than other children with (married) heterosexual parents, caused by prohibition of same-sex marriages and discrimination towards homosexual relationships (Alvear and Cameron 2). There is only one solution to solve this problem that homosexuals have is to give them the same rights everyone else has. I believe that if we give homosexuals the same rights that everyone else has, then our world would be a much safer and happier place.

expatriate failures :: essays research papers fc

EXPATRIATE FAILURES â€Å"The internationalization of business has proceeded at a rapid pace as the world has become a global economy.†(Mathis, Jackson 2000) This is the very reason why companies now have the need for international executives. As all aspects of a business spread worldwide, so must the employees. An expatriate by definition is a home-county national, usually an employee of the firm, who is sent abroad to manage a foreign subsidiary. (Rodrigues, 2001) A successful expatriate generally requires an extensive amount of time and money, however, a failed expatriate can be even more costly for an organization. A study of multinational corporations showed that 69% (of the firms surveyed) had recall rates of expatriates between 10 to 20 percent. Compared to Japan and their figures, (86% of firms had less than 5% recall rate) the United States has room for improvement. (Tung, 1981) There are many reason for expatriates to fail and many differences between Japan and United States’ hum an resource management planning.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the main reasons why expatriates fail is due to the social and physical environments of the foreign country. Adaptation problems can effect the on-the-job effectiveness of the expatriate. Different value systems and living habits are a main cause of adaptation problems and the inability to communicate only worsens the problem. Lack of communication verbally and nonverbally can affect every aspect of a persons career and person life. If someone can’t communicate, imagine the difficulty of going to the bank, dealing with customers, and even going grocery shopping. In addition to the new surrounding environments, if the expatiates family can not accompany them or is not happy with the new living arrangements then it could result in separation anxiety. Humans need to feel secure in their environments and with all of these downfalls it is extremely difficult to accomplish. When an expatiate is not happy with their situation, it will reflect on their job p erformance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some other reasons for expatriates to fail are differences in the managerial and organizational principles. If a foreign country has different principles than the home-country than implementation can be very difficult. This also applies to objectives and policies. With such differences the expatriate may need to conform to the local situation. â€Å"If the expatriate manager’s authority is visibly constrained, his or her opportunity to establish and maintain an effective relationship with local associates is diminished.† (Rodrigues, 2001) An expatriate’s authority can appear constrained if the home office overcentralizes the decision making.

Conventional Machining vs Non-Conventional Machining

lConventional Machining VS Non-Conventional Machining Conventional machining usually involves changing the shape of a workpiece using an implement made of a harder material. Using conventional methods to machine hard metals and alloys means increased demand of time and energy and therefore increases in costs; in some cases conventional machining may not be feasible. Conventional machining also costs in terms of tool wear and in loss of quality in the product owing to induced residual stresses during manufacture.With ever increasing demand for manufactured goods of hard alloys and metals, such as Inconel 718 or titanium, more interest has gravitated to non-conventional machining methods. Conventional machining can be defined as a process using mechanical (motion) energy. Non-conventional machining utilises other forms of energy. The three main forms of energy used in non-conventional machining processes are as follows : †¢ †¢ †¢ Thermal energy Chemical energy Electrical energy One example of machining using thermal energy is laser. Thermal methods have many advantages over conventional machining, but there are a few of disadvantages. Inconel 718, titanium and other hard metals and alloys have a very high melting point. Using thermal methods will require high energy input for these materials. Concentrating heat onto any material greatly affects its microstructure and will normally cause cracking, which may not be desirable. Safety requirements for thermal methods, especially laser, are demanding in terms of time and cost. Machining large areas or many surfaces at the same time using thermal methods is not normally possible. †¢ †¢ †¢ The methods using electrical energy are electrodischarge machining (EDM) and nodic machining (AM), which are similar in practice. EDM, often refered to as spark erosion, uses pulsed voltage to remove material from a workpiece and a non-conductive medium to clear the debris. Because the medium is electrica lly inert the tool is a direct reverse of the workpiece and no complicated tool design criteria are required. But the shock of spark erosion can affect the microstructure on the surface of the workpiece. Also, EDM has a lower material removal rate than AM. The chemicals used in AM are non-toxic and the energy required is less than other nonconventional machining processes.It has no effect on the microstructure of the workpiece. The electrolyte can even be common sea water, enabling AM to be used in a sub-sea capacity. The hardness and thermal resistivity of the workpiece material do not matter therefore hard metals and alloys can be machined using tools made from softer materials. The only disadvantage is that tool design is a little more complex than that of EDM, but software is being developed to make this easier. The controllability, environmental versatility, speed, safety and absence of change in workpiece microstructure make AM a competitive manufacturing process.

Iron Crowned Chapter 3

I might have come to accept being queen of the Thorn Land, and it was hard not to grow attached to a place you had a spiritual connection to. Nonetheless, nothing the Otherworld offered would ever take the place of my home in Tucson. It was a small house, but in a nice neighborhood, near the Catalina Mountains north of the city. Gateways between the worlds existed all over, facilitating travel, but I had an â€Å"anchor† in my home, meaning once I shifted out of the Thorn Land's gate, I was able to materialize directly in my bedroom. An anchor could be any object tied to your essence. My roommate Tim, who hadn't seen me in a few days, was understandably shocked when I came strolling into the kitchen. â€Å"Jesus Christ, Eug!† he exclaimed. He'd been flipping pancakes at the stove. â€Å"We've got to put a bell around your neck or something.† I grinned and had an inexplicable urge to hug him – though I knew that would freak him out even more. After all the craziness in the Otherworld, his normality was a welcome sight. Well, â€Å"normality† might have been an exaggeration. Tim – with his tall, dark, and handsome looks – had taken to impersonating Native Americans (badly) in order to score chicks and make money selling his awful poetry. He rotated through various tribes, and last I knew, he'd been passing himself off as Tlingit, seeing as the locals got a little less pissed off by him donning the clothes of a tribe living hundreds of miles away. He lived in my house rent-free in exchange for cooking and housework, and I was glad to see him dressed in an ordinary jeans and T-shirt ensemble today. â€Å"Are you making enough for two?† I asked, heading straight for the full coffeepot. â€Å"I always make enough for two. But most of it goes to waste.† That last part came out as a grumble. He'd once complained about being my â€Å"slave† but missed my being around now. â€Å"Messages?† â€Å"Usual place.† When in the Otherworld, I left my cell phone with Tim. It forced him to play secretary, something he resented since I actually already employed one. Indeed, most of the messages he'd scrawled on the refrigerator's white board were from her. Tue. – 11 AM – Lara: two job offersTue. – 2:30 PM – Lara: one possible client needs ASAP helpTue. – 5:15 PM – Lara: still wants to talk to youTue. – 5:20 PM – Lara: needs you to finish tax paperworkTue. – 10:30 PM – Lara: won't stop callingWed. – 8 AM – Lara: who calls this early?Wed. – 11:15 AM – BitchWed. – 11:30 AM – Sam's Home Improvement: interested in vinyl siding? I admired his detailed message taking – frustration with Lara aside – but my heart sank when I saw who was conspicuously missing. Every time I came home, I secretly hoped I'd see their names up there. Sometimes, on the sly, my mom would check on me. But my stepdad, Roland? He never called anymore, not after finding out about my allegiance to the Otherworld. Tim, preoccupied with his cooking, didn't see my face. â€Å"I don't get why she keeps calling. She knows you can't get any of her messages. Why does she need more than one? It's not like a billion of them are magically going to get through to you.† â€Å"It's just her way,† I said. â€Å"She's efficient.† â€Å"That's not efficient,† he declared. â€Å"It's borderline neurotic.† I sighed, wondering not for the first time if I should just let messages go to voice mail. Despite having never met, Tim and Lara were mortal phone enemies. Hearing them bitch about each other was wearying. Nonetheless, staring at her string of calls already made me feel tired. I'd once had a brisk trade as a freelance shaman, kicking out ghosts and other annoying supernatural creatures who harassed humans. Now that I moonlighted as a fairy queen, I'd had to become much more selective with clientele. I could no longer keep up with the demand around here and felt bad about that. I suspected Roland was picking up my slack but didn't know for sure. I waited until after breakfast before dealing with Lara. Pancakes, sausage, and coffee gave me the strength to deal with this latest batch of requests. Undoubtedly seeing my number on her caller ID, Lara didn't bother with formalities when I finally called. â€Å"About time,† she exclaimed. â€Å"Has he been giving you my messages?† â€Å"He just did. I've been gone for three days. You know you don't need to keep bugging him about it.† â€Å"I want to make sure he tells you I called.† â€Å"He writes them down, every one. Besides, my phone's log also tells me you've called †¦ a lot.† â€Å"Hmphf.† She let it go. â€Å"Well, you're getting a lot of requests lately. I've thinned them out, but you've still got to choose.† It was almost February. We weren't near any major sabbats, when paranormal activity always increased. Sometimes, though, it happened for no reason. It figured now would be one of those times – right while I was in the middle of a war. Or, I realized, it might be happening because of that. My identities as queen and shaman were both well known among many creatures. Maybe they hoped they could get away with more while I was distracted. Half seemed to show up for selfish purposes in our world; the other half hoped to forcibly father Storm King's heir on me. â€Å"Okay,† I said. â€Å"Let's hear the priorities.† â€Å"We need to finish your taxes.† â€Å"That's not a priority. Keep going.† â€Å"Single woman, stalked by a fetch.† â€Å"That's serious. I'll have to get on that one.† â€Å"Tree elemental. In your neighborhood.† â€Å"Yeah, that one's here for me. He won't hurt anyone else.† â€Å"Phantom-infested subdivision.† â€Å"On a graveyard?† â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"Schedule it, and make sure the builder's charged double. Their own stupid fault.† â€Å"Will do. Then you've got the usual weirdness. Lights in the sky. Possible UFO.† â€Å"Was that Wil again?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Damn it! Did you tell him it's just the military?† â€Å"Yes. He also said there's been some Bigfoot sightings – â€Å" I froze. â€Å"Bigfoot? Where?† â€Å"I didn't get the details. I thought it was his usual craziness. And didn't you say they don't live in Arizona?† â€Å"They don't. Has there been anything weird in the news? Deaths?† There was a pause, and I heard the rustling of papers. â€Å"Two hikers died over in Coronado, near the Rappel Rock trail. The report stated that they fell. Took a couple days to find their bodies. Nasty stuff. Some animals got to them.† I was up and out of my chair in a flash, making the dishes on the kitchen table rattle. Tim, leafing through a magazine, looked up in alarm. â€Å"Call Wil,† I told her, trying to tug on one of my boots while balancing the phone. â€Å"Find out where he heard about these Bigfoot sightings. If it's not Coronado, give me a call back. If it is, no need to call.† Wil was Jasmine's half brother, and I avoided speaking to him when I could. One reason was that he always asked me about her. The other was that he was a crazy, paranoid conspiracy theorist. This time, he might be on to something. Lara was understandably startled. â€Å"But you said Bigfoot – â€Å" â€Å"It's not Bigfoot.† â€Å"Don't forget your other job tonight!† â€Å"I won't.† I disconnected and managed to get on the other boot. Tim regarded me warily. â€Å"I don't like it when you get that look.† â€Å"That makes two of us.† He watched as I went to our hallway closet and produced a little-worn leather coat. â€Å"You're going to Coronado?† â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"High?† â€Å"Yup.† He sighed and gestured to where we hung our keys near the door. â€Å"Take my car. It'll handle better if you run into snow.† I slung my satchel over my shoulder and flashed him a grateful smile. He warned me to be careful, but I was already out the door with the keys, heading for his Subaru. My eyes barely saw the road as I drove toward Coronado State Park. Bigfoot. No, you wouldn't find Bigfoot out here, not even in the Catalinas. Now, tell me there'd been a sighting in the Pacific Northwest? Or anywhere in Canada? Yeah, it'd be Bigfoot hunting time. But it wouldn't be a priority. They were generally harmless. Here? When you got a Bigfoot sighting in Tucson, it was a demon bear. Yeah – I know. It was a ridiculous name, but it got the point across – and really, there was nothing funny about them. They came from the Underworld and were utterly lethal. With their tall and furry appearance, it was easy to understand why the untrained eye would mistake them for popular images of Bigfoot. Demon bears didn't fuck around either. If only two people were dead, then this one hadn't been in the area long. We were lucky – even if the hikers weren't. No rodents or foxes had fed on those bodies. In Tucson proper, we were enjoying our typically mild winter weather – mid-seventies today, if I had to guess. As I drove higher into the mountains, the temperature dropped rapidly. I soon saw snow on the ground and signs for Mt. Lemmon's ski resorts. Other signs directed me toward popular hiking and climbing areas – including Rappel Rock. In and of itself, it was a popular area for outdoorsmen. With its proximity to the ski areas, the demon bear's presence was doubly dangerous this time of year. I finally reached the trailhead and parked in a gravel lot. Only a couple other cars were there, which was a small blessing. I stepped out of the Subaru, shocked by the blast of cold air that hit me. I was not used to these temperatures. I hadn't been bred for them. Give me monsters and ghosts? No problem. But cold weather? That was a weakness. I could've used magic to adjust the air but needed to conserve my power. Instead, as I stuffed my arsenal into my belt – not comfortable but ready for easy access – I used my magic for a summoning. I spoke the ritual words, and a few moments later, a small implike creature appeared before me. He had pointed ears, smooth night-black skin, and red slits for eyes. â€Å"My mistress calls,† he said in a flat voice, â€Å"and I answer, no doubt for some mundane task.† â€Å"We're going after a demon bear,† I said, moving briskly toward the trail and trying my best to ignore the cold. My jacket wasn't suited for this weather at all, but it was the best I had. â€Å"A more challenging task than most,† he observed. I ignored his condescension as I stopped before the sign indicating the various routes and levels of difficulty for these climbs and hikes. Volusian was a cursed spirit I'd subdued and enslaved. His power made him a useful asset – and a risky one. He hated me and spent a good deal of his time planning how to kill me, should I ever lose the control needed to bind him. I closed my eyes, attempting to become one with the air rather than its victim. The world was silent here, save for the rustling of wind in the pines and chatter of birds and small animals. I spread my senses out, seeking something out of place. My abilities weren't perfect, but I could often sense a presence not from our world. â€Å"There.† I opened my eyes abruptly and pointed near a trail marked â€Å"moderately difficult.† â€Å"Do you feel anything?† Volusian studied the area, using his senses as well. â€Å"Yes. But more there.† He pointed not at the trail itself but more toward its left, off into the woods. I grimaced but knew his senses were slightly better than mine. â€Å"Off-roading. Lovely.† We set out in that direction. Volusian shifted to a more ghostly form that floated along with me, rather than treading through the underbrush like I had to. It wasn't anything I couldn't handle, but it made for slow going. Yet, as I traveled farther and farther, that magical feel increased. â€Å"It will sense you too, mistress,† said Volusian, in a rare show of unsolicited commentary. I didn't doubt it. â€Å"Will it come after me? Or will it run?† â€Å"Run? No. Hide? Perhaps.† There was a calculated pause. â€Å"It won't try to force itself sexually on you, however. The blood of the shining ones is too alluring. It will simply try to eat you.† â€Å"How reassuring,† I muttered. â€Å"I'll do the banishing. You distract it.† Soon, I needed no special senses to know we'd reached our goal. The forest had grown deadly silent. No more birds or other signs of life. A strong sense of †¦ wrongness filled the air. The worlds were stacked: human, Otherworld, Underworld. With our proximity, Otherworldly creatures could sometimes move throughout this world without me feeling anything. Something from the Underworld was too foreign. It stuck out. â€Å"We're close,† I murmured. â€Å"We're practically – oomphf!† A massive arm swung out from a cluster of trees and hit me in the stomach, knocking me painfully backward. There was nothing I could do to prevent my fall onto the forest floor of sharp sticks and rocks, but I did manage to grab hold of my wand as I went down. A giant form loomed in front of me, almost eight feet tall. Long-limbed, with clawed feet and hands, its muscled body could easily be mistaken for that of a Bigfoot. Its ears – while definitely bearlike – were flattened against its head, adding to the humanoid appearance. It roared, showing a mouthful of sharp teeth. Black eyes, filled with nothing but mindless rage, peered down at me. Volusian, compelled by my orders, threw himself against the bear. The power radiating around Volusian's body had the substantiality of a ton of bricks. The creature staggered backward, eyes shifting angrily to my minion. The fact that Volusian hadn't knocked it to the ground was concerning. They were either well matched, or the demon was even more powerful than Volusian. The latter would be problematic, seeing as I wasn't strong enough to banish Volusian. Well, that is, I wasn't strong enough to banish him and fight him. If someone else subdued him, I could have sent Volusian on. If this demon bear had the means to defeat Volusian, then I'd be cake. Hopefully, the demon bear couldn't obliterate Volusian while distracted by something else – me. I scrambled to my feet, holding my wand out as I prepared to open a door to the Underworld. Volusian and the demon battled it out, neither capable of killing each other. I gathered my will, channeling the power of my soul to spread past this world and the Otherworld, on to the Underworld. On my arm, a tattoo of a black and white butterfly sacred to Persephone began to burn as I touched her domain. The air near the demon dematerialized, forming an opening to the Underworld. Grabbing my silver athame with my free hand, I approached the battle, cautious of both the combatants and the forming gate. Volusian hovered over the demon, keeping its eyes directed high. I sneaked up unnoticed. With well-practiced speed, I snaked out with the athame, drawing an arcane symbol on the demon's chest. Usually, banishing a demon back to its domain kept it from returning. A binding mark like this ensured it. I didn't want to take any chances. The demon's roar of rage echoed through the woods, and it turned toward me. I'd anticipated this and had already scrambled away, keeping out of its reach. Really, I'd been lucky the first time it hit me. It had the strength to kill me with one blow. Volusian came forward again to pull the demon's attention back – only, it didn't work. The demon recognized the threat I was and could feel the opening of the gate. Volusian, attacking and attacking, was a nuisance – a painful one – but one the demon could apparently ignore as it came toward me. â€Å"Shit,† I said. I backed farther and farther away, but the demon was quickly closing the distance. Its massive feet could trample the underbrush that slowed me so much. I worked hard to ignore just how dire my situation had become and instead concentrated on the gateway. That door grew more substantial, and soon, its power began calling to its own – sucking the demon back. The creature paused in its attack. The problem was, the gate wanted to pull Volusian too. Orders or not, he moved out of range for self-preservation, which I didn't exactly blame him for. Only, without my minion to beat on the demon, it now had just enough strength to fight the gate and keep coming toward me. It had to know that if it could take me out, the gate would go away too. Suddenly, I heard something approaching us, sticks and leaves crackling under strong feet – or, to be more precise, paws. A red fox – much larger than a normal one – sprang out onto the demon's back, sinking its teeth into the furry brown hide. This brought another shriek from the demon – and gave me a moment's respite. I threw all my power into the gate and jerked the demon toward it. The demon flailed, unable to fight being sent back to its own world. The fox had the sense to get out of the way, its services no longer needed. The demon gave one last mournful cry and then faded from our sight. I stretched the wand toward where the demon had disappeared, sending my energy through the wand's gems to banish the gate as well and reseal this world. Silence followed, except for my own rapid breathing. Slowly, birds began to sing again, and the forest's natural state returned. I leaned against a tall, leafless oak in relief. The banishing hadn't been as easy as I expected, but it certainly could have ended worse – like, with my death. â€Å"We didn't need your help,† I said. â€Å"We were doing just fine.† The fox was no longer there, as I'd already known. It had transformed into a tall, muscled man, with deep, golden-brown skin and black hair that barely touched his shoulders. He was a kitsune, a shape-shifting Japanese fox from the Otherworld. Actually, he was half-kitsune. His mother had been the kitsune; his father a mortal from Arizona. Power-wise, it made little difference. â€Å"Yeah,† said Kiyo, crossing his arms over his chest. He needed no coat and simply wore a burgundy T-shirt. â€Å"You seemed to have it all under control.† â€Å"We were about to,† I retorted. â€Å"Actually, mistress,† said Volusian, deadpan, â€Å"your death was probably imminent.† â€Å"Oh shut up,† I snapped. â€Å"You're dismissed. Go back to the Otherworld.† Volusian vanished. I turned back to Kiyo. â€Å"What are you doing out here anyway?† He shrugged, and I worked hard to ignore the effect his physical appearance always had on me. â€Å"Same thing as you. I'm on Wil's mailing list. When I heard about the Bigfoot sightings †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I sighed and turned back the way we'd come. â€Å"I don't need your help.† â€Å"I wasn't coming to help you.† He caught up with me easily. â€Å"I was coming to kill a demon bear. You just happened to be here first.† Considering the trouble Volusian and I had had, I doubted Kiyo could have taken out the demon through brute force. Kiyo was strong, yeah, but hardly all-powerful. Unfortunately, he was all-bravery. He rushed into impossible situations, ready to defend others – even at cost to himself. He'd always been reckless that way – except for once. And that was the core of our problems. Kiyo and I used to date, wrapped in a deeply romantic and physical relationship. His continual disapproval of my Otherworldly relations had begun to fracture things between us. The final break had occurred after Leith had raped me. Kiyo had come to rescue me but had refused to punish Leith. Kiyo had advised a tamer course of action: letting Otherworldly justice take its course. Dorian, however, had opted for on-the-spot justice: he'd run Leith through with a sword. Kiyo and I had broken up shortly after that. â€Å"You were outclassed,† I told Kiyo. â€Å"There are a billion other creatures running loose right now. If you want to help, go after them.† â€Å"Ah, yes. I forgot,† he said. â€Å"Tucson's former caretaker is too busy playing queen.† I came to a halt and glared. â€Å"I'm not playing at anything! Controlling the Thorn Land wasn't my choice, and you know it.† â€Å"That's true. It was Dorian's choice – one he tricked you into. Yet, somehow that doesn't matter, and now it's okay for you to shack up with him and wage war.† I started moving again, marching through the woods in a haze of anger. When we'd broken up, Kiyo had been sad and withdrawn. Over time, he'd gotten his spunk back and now – whenever we ran into each other – didn't hesitate to express his opinion of Dorian, the war, or anything else Otherworldly I was involved in. â€Å"The war wasn't my choice either,† I said at last, after refusing to respond for several minutes. â€Å"Stopping it wasn't exactly out of your control either.† â€Å"So what are you saying? That I should just stop now and surrender?† â€Å"No.† His calmness was annoying. â€Å"But there must be a peaceful way to end it. To negotiate something.† â€Å"Don't you think we've tried?† I exclaimed. â€Å"How bloodthirsty do you think I am? Every diplomat we send is either given unreasonable demands or met with death threats.† â€Å"I like the use of ‘we.' I wonder how seriously Dorian is taking the peace process.† I could see the parking lot through the trees ahead. Good. I needed to be away from Kiyo. His presence was stifling. It stirred up too many feelings, too many feelings I didn't want to deal with. â€Å"Dorian isn't running this by himself. We're in it together, and we have tried to settle with Katrice.† â€Å"And as that's failed, you're now going to march in with your allies and take her land with overwhelming force, expanding your empire.† We reached the gravel lot, and I turned on Kiyo in full anger, hands on my hips. â€Å"We don't have any allies. And I don't want another kingdom! I sure as hell don't want an empire!† He shrugged. â€Å"Say whatever you want, but everyone knows you're looking for people to join up with you.† â€Å"And Katrice is doing the same,† I said smoothly. â€Å"I hear she's visited the Willow Land quite a bit.† Ah, that broke him. Kiyo's smug, cool faà §ade faltered. â€Å"Nothing's decided,† he said stiffly. â€Å"But your girlfriend's no fan of Dorian and me. She's afraid of us. How long, Kiyo? How long until she – and you – fight against us?† I was gaining ground; he was on the defensive. He and Maiwenn the Willow Queen had once been lovers; they'd even had a daughter together. I'd never believed their â€Å"just friends† claims since our breakup. Kiyo took a step forward, leaning toward me and fixing me with that dark, dark gaze. â€Å"She's not my girlfriend. And we're staying neutral.† I gave a shrug as masterfully casual as the one he'd given me earlier. â€Å"If you say so. And I like your use of ‘we.' Except, you don't really have an equal share in it, do you? You just run along and follow her orders.† â€Å"Damn it, Eugenie!† He clenched his fists. â€Å"Why do you have to be so – â€Å" He couldn't finish, and as we stood there, so close, I became aware once more of his body and the memories of our time together. I remembered what that body could do in bed. I remembered the way we'd laughed, how easily we'd connected. The Otherworld consumed so much of my time lately, but I was still half human. The human part of me called to other humans. And as he looked down at me, the anger softening a little, I had a feeling he was thinking the same thing. If he had any lingering attraction, the animal attributes in him would make this doubly awkward. My physical appearance would trigger sexual attraction that much more quickly. Even my scent could arouse him. He looked away. â€Å"Well. None of that matters. You should go home. You're freezing.† â€Å"I'm fine,† I said automatically, like I wasn't shivering and covered in goose bumps. â€Å"Of course you are.† He glanced back at me, a small, wry smile on his face. â€Å"Be careful, Eugenie.† â€Å"With what exactly?† I asked. â€Å"Everything.† With that, he shape-shifted back into a fox – a smaller, normal one – and scampered off through the trees. Naturally, he was too hard-core to have driven up here. Suddenly feeling drained, I got out Tim's keys and turned toward the car. I'd done what I needed to, that was what counted. I didn't want to think about Kiyo or war or anything like that. I wanted to go home and rest before the next job. A tingling along my spine made me drop the keys as I felt an Otherworldly presence appear behind me. I spun around, pulling my wand back out as I did. There, before me, was a ghost. It was female, looking like she'd died in her midthirties. Her translucent form washed out any color, but her hair was curly and shoulder-length, her clothing casual. Seeing a ghost outdoors was rare; they tended to be attracted to material things. Still, location didn't matter. They were dangerous. I pointed my wand at her, banishing words upon my lips. â€Å"Wait, don't!† she cried, holding up her hands. Pleading ghosts weren't uncommon. â€Å"Sorry. This isn't your world. You need to move on. It's for the best.† â€Å"Please. Not yet. I need to talk to you, Eugenie Markham.† I frowned, wand still poised and ready. â€Å"How do you know my name?† â€Å"Because I've come to ask for your help. I need you to find out who killed me.†

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

â€Å"Death of a Salesman†, by Arthur Miller, is the perfect play for you to revitalize your career, as it contains an outstanding and memorable character that is understandable and somewhat realistic the audience. There are also several themes thoughout the play that the audience can connect to. The play is also heavy in symbolism that relates these themes with the characters. By bringing all these elements into a masterful performance, you should have newspapers and critics alike marveling at your performance and swaying the public image of yourself from negitive to positive.Mr. Sheen, you will be playing Willy Loman. Willy is a salesman who, at one time in his life, used to be well liked and well known, but is now a troubled and misguided man, as seen in the following text: WILLY. â€Å"†¦ And then all of a sudden I’m goin’ off the road! I’m telling ya, I absolutely forgot I was driving. If I’d’ve gone the other way over the white li ne I might’ve killed somebody. So I went on again – and five minutes later I’m dreamin again, and I nearly – (He presses two fingers against his eyes. ) I have such thoughts, I have such strange thoughts. 1774) The â€Å"strange thoughts† that Willy continues to have thoughout the play are glimpses into his psychological thought process. To combat his unhappiness in himself and his family, Willy frequently reminiscences the past using soliloquies and illusions, imagining times where he felt content, appreciated, and successful. This will help the audience understand the trials you are undergoing as the play continues to unfold before the audience’s eyes. While it is normal to recall good times in our lives, it is not healthy to focus on them for too long.Willy basically lives in the past, which unables him not to be able to function in the present. The past has already occured, and you need to help the audience realize that there is nothing that you can do to change it. He even goes as far as to having conversations with imaginary people, showing his deteriorating mental health. Willy’s admiration of Dave Singleman’s (asuccess shows his obsession with being well liked: WILLY. And when I saw that, I realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want. Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people? (1807) Willy wants people remember and love him to substitute his neediness to be loved in a way his family love does not. Willy chooses to ignore the fact that Dave is still working at the age of eighty-four, and is probably experiencing the same frustrations and financial worries Willy does himself.Willy is frustrated with himself and his two sons whom he sees nothing but failure in, and tries to commit suicide several times. His wife, Linda, works to cheer him up, but is unsuccessful in doing so. Willy's two sons, Biff and Happy, also try to improve Willy's morale by attempting to win their father’s affection by getting better jobs with better pay. They, too, are unsuccessful, and Willy kills himself at the end of the play. To Willy Loman, the falsity of the American Dream is the dominant theme of Arthur Miller's â€Å"Death of a Salesman†. In early memories, you possesses a solid family that is happy and secure.However, no matter how much you wants to remember his families past as all-American and blissful, he is unable to rewrite his past. Willy represents the primary victim of this dream. As with most men working in the middle class, Willy struggles to provide financial security for his family and dreams about making himself a huge financial success. The failure of the American dream is present, and makes the audience question his/her commitment to their own false dreams. Another major theme of the play is the lost opportunities that each of the characters face and regret.Willy also regrets the opportunities that have passed by Biff, whom he believes to have the capability to be a great man. This is helped understood by the symbolism throughout the play. Symbolism in this play is very important, as it helps relate the themes to the characters. The seed Willy buys to plant his garden help to symbolize Willy’s desire for a fresh start in life. Willy’s desperate actions to attempt to grow the seeds relates to the unhappiness he goes through realizing his family has not â€Å"grown† into the thriving, nourished family he always dreamed of. Willy states: WILLY. Nothing’s planted.I don’t have a thing in the ground. (1827) Suggesting he is talking about his own sons and their future, his failure in being well known and well liked, and preoccupation with material success. The planting of the seeds can also show Willy’s desire to leave some thing that is tangible for his family and others to show the worth of his labor. Maybe you could reflect on the legacy you would like to leave as you dive into the role. All these elements help create this play into just what your career need in order to help improve your currently low image where it belongs.Many critics believe your cocaine nd hooker addiction is the suicide of your career, so you would be able to relate to Willy’s situation. You can relate to his unhappiness and character flaws as you have some yourself. Seeing as how you just recently divorced your wife, you could easily mold the tone and emotion needed to play this character. A moderate amount of people can relate to the struggles that Willy has undergone and can relate it to their lives 1. Miller, Arthur. â€Å"Death Of A Salesman. † Literature: An Introduction to Fiction,Poetry,Drama, And Writing. 11th ed. New York: Longman, 2010. 1773-835. Print. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Usually suicide is the last measure a human being would take when he or she sees no way out of a situation. Willy Loman, the protagonist of the drama Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, appears to be attempting suicide several times before he succeeds at the end of the play. His family does not seem to understand what is driving him into suicide until very late, as there seem to be several reasons. Behind the word success Willy Loman does not seem to see anything more than material possession. Self-fulfillment is nothing else than earning a lot of money to provide a good standard of living for one's family. This ironically is Willy's ideology, even though he is a salesman with a low salary who can barely pay the upcoming installments. Willy's view of the world is based to a large extent based on two men. His brother Ben, who made a fortune by finding diamonds in the jungle, and an old salesman called David Singleman, the salesman he aspires to become. Willy desperately tries to believe that he is a success, something he always tried to tell his sons. But of course at the age of sixty-three, near retirement, he has to realize that he cannot achieve what he was longing for. He starts going back into his past and seeing his brother Ben, who he thinks has all the answers. His life lies in ruins in front of him and he starts realizing that according to his ideology he is a failure. Materialistic things are everything that count for him is how it seems. Therefore he cannot see what he has in his wife and two sons, who stand behind him by the end of the play. The idea that his life insurance money could help his son to set up his business prevails for him. He had always wanted his sons, especially Biff, the elder one of them, to be successes. At the age of thirty-four, though, Biff has still not settled down, as he wants to be a success in the eyes of his father but on the other hand realizes that he is best at working with his hands. This of course would mean not making much money but would probably give him a feeling of self-fulfillment. By the end of the play Biff realizes exactly this but is not able to make Willy drop his views. These views prevent Willy from doing what he also shows talent in, which is construction working. Only materialistic things are what count in a man's life. As Willy slowly seems to comprehend how much he failed, according to his narrowed views, a process begins in him, which many of the other characters would describe as confusion. It is much more than that, though, he looses his touch with reality and gives up his will to live. On his long journeys in his car he deliberately tries to crash and at home he connects a plastic attachment to the gas pipe in his cellar in order to suffocate himself. This not only shows that he has given up but also that his family is not enough reason for him to continue his life. This cannot be explained simply by saying he does not love them but it is that he thinks he is unworthy of living with them when he cannot provide them with money. Therefore his line of thinking continues with the idea that in his death he can give them a lot more financial support than he could in his life time. Following his logic this is to say that he is a much better husband and father, dead than alive. In the play there is a rather optimistic part, where the future of the Loman family seems rather good. Willy is about to see his boss for a non-traveling position and his sons have the plan to open a sports article retailing business. All of these hopes for a better future get crushed at once and the way to Willy's suicide is free. In a last vision of Ben, Willy sees a new hope at least for his sons in his life insurance money and therefore his death. Ben encourages him in this unspoken intention Willy takes the last step and drives into the next tree. Willy Loman, husband and father is driven to his suicide by a perverted version of the American dream. His view of success and self-realization has reduced to a materialistic meaning. All he can see is his failure in providing his family with a good financial situation. His real failure, though, is not to see what he has in his family and what else he can give them besides money. â€Å"Death of a Salesman† by Arthur Miller A play in which the title is significant but not obviously so is â€Å"Death of a Salesman† by Arthur Miller. In â€Å"Death of a Salesman† Miller explores the capitalism of 1940s America and how the American Dream does not benefit everyone in the business world. Willy Loman, the main character in the play, became a salesman after the death of another elderly salesman who could make money without leaving his hotel room. It was this salesman and how well liked he was that inspired Willy to become a salesman as he wanted to be well liked as Dave Singleman. Willy mentions on multiple occasions how well liked he was and that at his own funeral he wanted many people to be present as they had been at Dave Singleman’s funeral â€Å"When he died, hundreds of salesmen and buyers were at his funeral. † Like Dave Singleman Willy wanted people to come from all over the country to mourn him this sympathy towards him as this is a highly unlikely situation and he therefore is setting himself and his family into a deluded scene that will never be witnessed. Similar essay: Realism and Expressionism in Death of a Salesman Willy also wants to die the honourable death, which he now associates with being a salesman as he idolises Dave Singleman â€Å"He died the death of a salesman, in his green velvet slippers†¦ † However at the conclusion of the play it is clear that Willy Loman did not die the honourable death he so desired as no one from the business world arrived at his funeral only his wife, two sons, Charley and Bernard were present which also demonstrates how deluded Willy was in the life he led as he honestly believed his funeral would be of a similar scale to Dave Singleman’s. This evokes sympathy towards Willy as he did not die his ideal death of a salesman and seems to live by measuring how successful people are by the size of their funeral and therefore his own funeral reflects truly how unsuccessful his career as a salesman was. In â€Å"Death of a Salesman† Willy suffers a metaphorical death, the death of his dream of financial success. By the plays conclusion Willy is jobless and broke. Willy has a conversation with his brother Ben, who has been dead for some time, and concludes the best future for his family, especially Biff whom Willy is desperate to become successful, would be for him to kill himself as the insurance company would pay out $20, 000, enough to make Biff successful in Willy’s mind, â€Å"you end up worth more dead than alive. The irony of Willy killing himself is that he is killing himself to give Biff money in order for him to become a successful business man however the insurance company will not make a payout for suicide and Biff has no intention of following in his father’s footsteps. This evokes sympathy for Willy as he is trying to do the best for his family however he still cannot provide for them even through his death. During the play â€Å"Death of a Salesman† the title is significant as there is a physical death of a salesman in the respect that Willy dies and he is a salesman. Through killing himself Willy hopes to provide the financial support, which he has been failing to gain for many years, for his family that is required. The death of Willy is not honourable as he desires and is sorry ending to his unsuccessful life in business. In conclusion the title of the play is significant as it in further understanding of the events, which occur in the play. Miller uses the title to convey both a physical and metaphorical death and in order for the reader to understand the ending to their full capability.