Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Hamlet, By William Shakespeare - 918 Words
Almost every story involves a conflict between hero and villain. In some stories, there is a plot twist where the hero is also the villainââ¬âbut in Hamlet, there are no heroes and many villains. In Hamlet, every character has lied, kept secrets or is seeking revenge that leads to a tragic ending at every corner, but what we fail to see is who the true villain is. Looking at the character of Hamlet throughout the play, it is easier to spot his many dishonorable actions than his few honorable ones. Hamlet is often viewed as an honorable, upstanding person by many who read the play. The readers tend to victimize Hamlet because of the multiple tragedies he faces. Now it is safe to argue Hamlet could have been this honorable person at the beginning of the play, but by the end his character develops into a distinguishable villain. The argument that Hamlet is a villain could merely be left up to statistics. The popular opinion views Claudius as the corrupt villain in Hamlet. However, if the number of people killed is considered, Hamlet outnumbers Claudius by far. The only person Claudius kills in the play is Hamletââ¬â¢s father, King of Denmark. Although Claudius intended to kill Hamlet as well, Hamlet ended up killing more people by handing out his own fate. Hamlet stands guilty for the murders of Laertes, Claudius, Rosencrantz, Guildernstern, and Ophelia. The murders Hamlet committed or contributed to were caused solely by his need for revenge, which began when the ghost of hisShow MoreRelatedHamlet, By William Shakespeare880 Words à |à 4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare is praised as the pioneering English poet and playwright whose collection of theatrical works is regarded as the greatest artistic value throughout the history of English literature. Shakespeare delved into the spiritual and mental component of humanity and the consequences that arise from this human spirit when it is disputed. The most famous revenge tragedy play, Hamlet, is an excellent illus tration of Shakespeareââ¬â¢s philosophical study of human nature. In Hamlet, the arguableRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare899 Words à |à 4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare, author of Hamlet, was a well-known author in the 1500s and is still popular today. He was born on April 24, 1564 in London, England. Although there were no birth records at that time, it shows he was baptized one year prior to that, which leads us to believe his birthday was in 1564 because children were normally baptized a year after their birth. Shakespeareââ¬â¢s writing style was very different than others at that time. He used many metaphors and rhetorical phrases, and most ofRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare996 Words à |à 4 PagesHamlet, written by William Shakespeare, with out a doubt holds the most famous soliloquy in English history spoken by Hamlet in Act III, scene i, lines 57-90. This soliloquy holds much importance to the play as a whole because it ties together the reoccurring themes of suicide and Hamletââ¬â¢s inaction portrayed by Shakespeare. Hamlet poses a problem, which is the driving force of the play: ââ¬Å"To be or not to be?â⬠(III.i.57). Shakespeare uses this logical question asked by Hamlet to drive out his underlyingRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare1178 Words à |à 5 Pages In William Shakespeareââ¬â¢s play Hamlet, the protagonist suffers from struggles with major characters, especially with the women in his life. While reading the play Hamlet, Hamlet appears to be a disillusioned man. Throughout the play, Shakespeare has only casted two females: Gertrude and Ophelia. Gertrude is defined to be incestuous, naà ¯ve and cold-hearted. On the other side, Ophelia is characterized to be ignorant, innocent and fearful. After the quick marriage of his mother and evil uncle, Hamletââ¬â¢sRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare1308 Words à |à 6 PagesHamlet is arguably one of the greatest tragedies in all of literature and when most people think of tragic plays, they think of none other than the one who wrote it, William Shakespeare. This classic story of revenge excites itââ¬â¢s readers with its main character, Prince Hamlet, who goes through the unique human-like process of revenge that is often overlooked. Many other stories rely heavily on the logi c of good people doing good things and bad people doing bad things just for the sake of their natureRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare Essay1453 Words à |à 6 PagesHamlet by William Shakespeare explores many aspects of mankind--death, betrayal, love, and mourning. Out of these, the most prominent theme in this play is death in the form of suicide. The main character, Hamlet, finds himself questioning the quality of life and the uncertainty of the afterlife once he discovers news of his father s death and the corruption in the kingdom that follows. Ophelia, Hamletââ¬â¢s lover, is found dead later in the plot and is presumed to have committed suicide. In Hamletââ¬â¢sRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare1146 Words à |à 5 PagesA character so complex, enticing and fascinating, his name is Hamlet. We are all Hamlet, and that, is the argument. Hamlet is an enigmatic character with many flaws. These flaws are the ones that prove similarities between us and him. A play so popular and significant is due to its huge relevance to us as a society. In the play Hamlet, William Shakespeare uses Hamletââ¬â¢s character and metaphor to demonstrate that when one is left alone to their thoughts, these thoughts overtake reason. ConsequentlyRead MoreHamlet by William Shakespeare1456 Words à |à 6 PagesThe play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, takes place in a time where the impossible was a part of the lives of everyday people. Occurrences that people in the modern time would believe unbelievable. Yet, with just a quill and parchment Shakespeareââ¬â¢s is able to connect the past and present by weaving a plot with skill that is still unparalleled to this day. The play Hamlet this exceeds this expectation by revealing depth of Hamlets, the protagonists, character personality through the useRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare1920 Words à |à 8 PagesIn the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the character Hamlet must deal with both external and internal conflict. Hamlet encounters many struggles and has trouble finding a way to deal with them. With so many corrupt people in his life, Hamlet feels as if there is no one that he can trust and begins to isolate himself from others. A result from this isolation leads Hamlet to become melancholy. Hamlet struggles with suicidal thoughts, wants to kill King Claudius, and is distraught over his motherââ¬â¢sRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare846 Words à |à 4 Pagesalways been a contemplative topic. In Hamlet, the main character Hamlet thinks to himself about suicide. Hamlet was written by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare wrote Hamlet between 1599 and 1602. William Shakespeare is one of the greatest playwrights in history. Hamlet is about Prince Hamlet of Denmark who is trying to find out about the death of his father after his father s ââ¬Ëghostââ¬â¢ comes to him telling him it was his uncle who had killed him. While Hamlet contemplates suicide he gives his famous
Monday, December 23, 2019
Pablo Picassos Cubism And Henri Matisse Fauvism - 1845 Words
Art before the 20th century consisted of new styles and three-dimensional spectrums to create the most realistic painting possible. Portraits and landscapes were presented as sort of photographs with a paint brush. Everything required specific fundamentals and anything different would be rejected and labeled degenerate. During this time, foundations were put to the test and it was completely disordered by revolutionary ideas and styles. This art influenced a vast majority of modern day art. Pablo Picassoââ¬â¢s cubism and Henri Matisse fauvism helped shape this era not only in style of painting, but a revolution against conformity of a social artistic structure. Cubism was a style of painting imagined, created, and performed by Pablo Picasso.â⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦This gives it a much more vivid mood (Southgate, 1131). Fauvism is an ideological style of painting that Henri Matisse is famously known for. Fauvism consists of very strong colors that interfere with the realism portrayed by the painting. The goal of this is to not only paint on a canvas, but create a story and all sorts of moods to the painting thanks to the beautiful use of oddly realistic colors. This tactic also influenced some of Picasso s work, including the Les Demoiselles d Avignon. These painting styles created a whole new era in traditional painting that revolutionized art itself. Without these ideas, modern art will not be anywhere close to what it has developed into. The influence these artists and their ideas took on 20th century art, changed art and how we will see it forever. Henri Matisseââ¬â¢s Fauvism contributed to this revolutionary. Henri Matisse was born on December 31, 1869 and died on November 3, 1954. He was a French artist mostly recognized by his use of color and diversity of spectrums in his art. Very much like Pablo Picasso, he was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but he was known primarily as a painter. He developed the idea of favism art in 20th century art. A particular painting that Henri Matisse is known for is his Joy of Life (Le Bonheur de Vivre) (1905-06). During Henriââ¬â¢s Fauvism era, heShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Paul Cezannes The Large Bathers843 Words à |à 4 Pagesideal of composition and his restoration of classic monumentality after its lapse during the nineteenth century. Cà ©zanneââ¬â¢s great achievementà forced the young Picasso, Matisse, and many other artists to contend with the implications of Cà ©zanneââ¬â¢sà art. This essay will discuss how both Matisseââ¬â¢s Bonheur de Vivre (Joy of Lif e) and Picassoââ¬â¢s Les Demoiselles dââ¬â¢Avignonà are considered as inspired by and breaking free of The Large Bathers. Paul Cezanneââ¬â¢s painting ââ¬Å"The Large Bathersâ⬠was his last and arguablyRead MoreModernized Art Forms and Styles Essay examples986 Words à |à 4 Pagesaround the world started to incorporate the emerging geometrics of technology into their art. Cubism, Futurism, Fauvism, Nonobjective art, and the International Style are all examples of art forms and styles that adapted the abstract geometrics that technology offered. Cubism is an art form movement that helped shape early 20th century art and the Modernist era. Two of Cubismââ¬â¢s most famous leaders were Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Picasso, a Spanish born artisan, wanted to express an art formRead MoreMatisse s Bonheur De Vivre ( Joy Of Life ) And Picasso s Les Demoiselles D Avignon1123 Words à |à 5 Pages(Joy of Life) and Picassoââ¬â¢s Les Demoiselles dââ¬â¢Avignon. This paper will also discuss how both works of art can be simultaneously seen as (1) inspired by, and (2) breaking free of Paul Cà ©zanneââ¬â¢s work The Large Bathers. This discussion will also make note of specific visual references. Matisse (Courtesy of https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b9/Bonheur_Matisse.jpg). Bonheur de Vivre (1905-1906) is considered to be a work created during the Fauvism period of art. Fauvism separated the useRead MoreLes Demoiselles DAvignon5704 Words à |à 23 Pagespaintingà of 1907 by the Spanish artistà Pablo Ruiz Picassoà (1881ââ¬â1973). The work portrays five nude female prostitutes from a brothel on Avinyà ³ Street inà Barcelona. Each figure is depicted in a disconcerting confrontational manner and none are conventionallyà feminine. The women appear as slightly menacing and rendered with angular and disjointed body shapes. Two are shown withà African mask-likeà faces and three more with faces in theà Iberianà style of Picassos native Spain, giving them a savage auraRead MoreEssay on Pablo Picassos Head of a Woman1058 Words à |à 5 Pages While visiting the Norton Museum, there were two works of art that were very interesting. The first work of art is a sculpture by Pablo Picasso called, Head of a Woman (Fernande). It was made in 190 9 when he was in Paris. When he made this sculpture he was in the cubism period. Picasso sculpted this sculpture of bronze. While looking at this sculpture it is transformed every time you move your own head, walk around it, and bend closer. It just has a way of changing shape. While looking at it, itRead MorePage 1: Home. Pablo Picasso. The Impact Of Pablo Picasso1733 Words à |à 7 PagesPage 1: Home Pablo Picasso The impact of Pablo Picasso on modern art is unprecedented, as his responsible for the development and expansion of many art genres. His unique views on how we perceive art and his ability to take inspiration from more obscure and unorthodox art forms tool the traditional mindset of the world by storm. Pablo Picasso can be considered the greatest artist of the 20th century because of his contributions to making modern art what it is today. What made Picasso revolutionaryRead MoreThe Art Of Paul Cezanne1530 Words à |à 7 PagesIntroduction Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso were both profoundly influenced by the art of Paul Cà ©zanne, somewhat ironically since the latter is reported to have been quite uncertain of his artistic contributions and anxious about his legacies (Merleau-Ponty, 1945). Picasso described Cà ©zanne as ââ¬Å"my one and only masterâ⬠; while Matisse noted that ââ¬Å"it is undoubtedly to Cà ©zanne that I owe the mostâ⬠. The Large Bathers was one of two final paintings produced by Cà ©zanne in 1906, the year of his deathRead MoreVan Gogh Starry Night and Influence of Many2004 Words à |à 9 Pagesdeveloping his techniques, Van Gogh was inspired by many artists such as Anton Mauve and Jean Francois Millet, adopting and changing his perspective into his style for his paintings. Other contemporary artists were inspired by Van Gogh, such as Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso producing an individual style, relating to different art movements. The discussion of Vincent Van Gogh explains the significance of his style in art, a brief, synopsis, of his medium used in the composition of Starry Night; alongRead MoreChapter 33 ââ¬â Early 20th Century5648 Words à |à 23 Pages | |d. |Column | ____ 6. Which of the following artists created a modern American art style combining Synthetic Cubism with jazz tempos and his perception of the fast-paced American culture? |a. |Marsden Hartley | |b. |Charles Demuth
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Warm Bodies Step two taking Free Essays
string(51) " going on back then was a few wars and recessions\." I am young. I am a teenage boy aflame with health, strong and virile and pounding with energy. But I get older. We will write a custom essay sample on Warm Bodies Step two taking or any similar topic only for you Order Now Every second ages me. My cells spread themselves thinner, stiffening, cooling, darkening. I am fifteen, but each death around me adds a decade. Each atrocity, each tragedy, each small moment of sadness. Soon I will be ancient. Here I am, Perry Kelvin in the Stadium. I hear birds in the walls. The bovine moans of pigeons, the musical chirps of starlings. I look up and breathe deep. The air is so much cleaner lately, even here. I wonder if this is what the world smelled like when it was new, centuries before smokestacks. It frustrates and fascinates me that weââ¬â¢ll never know for sure, that despite the best efforts of historians and scientists and poets, there are some things weââ¬â¢ll just never know. What the first song sounded like. How it felt to see the first photograph. Who kissed the first kiss, and if it was any good. ââ¬ËPerry!ââ¬â¢ I smile and wave at my little admirer as he and his dozen foster-siblings cross the street in a line, hand in hand. ââ¬ËHey . . . buddy,ââ¬â¢ I call to him. I can never remember his name. ââ¬ËWeââ¬â¢re going to the gardens!ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËCool!ââ¬â¢ Julie Grigio grins at me, leading their line like a mother swan. In a city of thousands I run into her almost every day, sometimes near the schools where it seems probable, sometimes in the outermost corners of the Stadium where the odds are slim. Is she stalking me or am I stalking her? Either way, I feel a pulse of stress hormones shoot through me every time I see her, rushing to my palms to make them sweat and to my face to make it pimply. Last time we met, she took me up on the roof. We listened to music for hours, and when the sun went down, Iââ¬â¢m pretty sure we almost kissed. ââ¬ËWant to come with us, Perry?ââ¬â¢ she says. ââ¬ËItââ¬â¢s a field trip!ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËOh fun . . . a field trip to where I just spent eight hours working.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËHey, there arenââ¬â¢t a lot of options in this place.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËSo Iââ¬â¢ve noticed.ââ¬â¢ She waves for me to come over and I immediately comply, while trying my best to look reluctant. ââ¬ËDonââ¬â¢t they ever get to go outside?ââ¬â¢ I wonder, watching the kids march in clumsy lockstep. ââ¬ËMrs Grau would say we are outside.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËI mean outside. Trees, rivers, etc.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËNot till theyââ¬â¢re twelve.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËAwful.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËYeah . . .ââ¬â¢ We walk in silence except for the burble of child-speak behind us. The Stadium walls loom protectively like the parents these kids will never know. My excitement at seeing Julie darkens under a sudden cloud of melancholy. ââ¬ËHow do you stand it here,ââ¬â¢ I say, barely a question. Julie frowns at me. ââ¬ËWe get to go out. Twice a month.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËI know, but . . .ââ¬â¢ She waits. ââ¬ËWhat, Perry?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËDo you ever wonder if itââ¬â¢s even worth it?ââ¬â¢ I gesture vaguely at the walls. ââ¬ËAll this?ââ¬â¢ Her expression sharpens. ââ¬ËI mean, are we really that much better off in here?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËPerry,ââ¬â¢ she snaps with unexpected vehemence. ââ¬ËDonââ¬â¢t you start talking like that, donââ¬â¢t you fucking start.ââ¬â¢ She notices the abrupt silence behind us and cringes. ââ¬ËSorry,ââ¬â¢ she says to the kids in a confidential whisper. ââ¬ËBad words.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËFuck!ââ¬â¢ my little friend yells, and the whole line explodes with laughter. Julie rolls her eyes. ââ¬ËGreat.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËTsk tsk.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËYou shut your mouth. I meant what I said to you. Thatââ¬â¢s evil talk.ââ¬â¢ I look at her uncertainly. ââ¬ËWe get to go outside twice a month. More if weââ¬â¢re on salvage. And we get to stay alive.ââ¬â¢ She sounds like sheââ¬â¢s reciting a Bible verse. An old proverb. As if sensing her own lack of conviction she glances at me, then snaps her eyes forward. Her voice goes quiet. ââ¬ËNo more evil talk if you want to come on our field trip.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËSorry.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËYou havenââ¬â¢t been here long enough. You grew up in a safe place. You donââ¬â¢t understand the dangers.ââ¬â¢ Dark feelings flood my belly at this, but I manage to hold my tongue. I donââ¬â¢t know the pain sheââ¬â¢s speaking from, but I know itââ¬â¢s deep. It makes her hard and yet so terribly soft. Itââ¬â¢s her thorns and itââ¬â¢s her hand reaching out from the thicket. ââ¬ËSorry,ââ¬â¢ I say again and fumble for that hand, nudging it out of her jeans pocket. Itââ¬â¢s warm. My cold fingers wrap around hers, and my mind conjures an unwelcome image of tentacles. I blink it away. ââ¬ËNo more evil talk.ââ¬â¢ The kids gaze at me eagerly, huge eyes, spotless cheeks. I wonder what they are and what they mean and whatââ¬â¢s going to happen to them. ââ¬ËDad.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËYeah?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËI think I have a girlfriend.ââ¬â¢ My dad lowers his clipboard, adjusts his hard hat. A smile creeps into the deep creases of his face. ââ¬ËReally.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËI think so.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËWho?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËJulie Grigio?ââ¬â¢ He nods. ââ¬ËIââ¬â¢ve met her. Sheââ¬â¢s ââ¬â hey! Doug!ââ¬â¢ He leans over the edge of the bulwark and yells at a worker carrying a steel pylon. ââ¬ËThatââ¬â¢s forty-gauge, Doug, weââ¬â¢re using fifty for the arterial sections.ââ¬â¢ He looks back at me. ââ¬ËSheââ¬â¢s cute. Watch out though; seems like a firecracker.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËI like firecrackers.ââ¬â¢ My dad smiles. His eyes drift. ââ¬ËMe too, kid.ââ¬â¢ His walkie-talkie crackles and he pulls it out, starts giving instructions. I look out at the ugly concrete vista under construction. We are standing on the terminating end of a wall, fifteen feet high, currently a few blocks long. Another wall runs parallel to it, making Main Street into an enclosed corridor that cuts through the heart of the city. Workers swarm below, laying concrete pour-forms, erecting framework. ââ¬ËDad?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËYeah.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËDo you think itââ¬â¢s stupid?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËWhat?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËTo fall in love.ââ¬â¢ He pauses, then puts his walkie away. ââ¬ËWhat do you mean, Pear.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËLike . . . now. The way things are now. I mean, everythingââ¬â¢s so uncertain . . . is it stupid to waste time on stuff like that in a world like this? When everything might fall apart any minute?ââ¬â¢ My dad looks at me for a long time. ââ¬ËWhen I met your mom,ââ¬â¢ he says, ââ¬ËI asked myself that. And all we had going on back then was a few wars and recessions. You read "Warm Bodies Step two taking" in category "Essay examples"ââ¬â¢ His walkie starts crackling again. He ignores it. ââ¬ËI got nineteen years with your mom. But do you think I wouldââ¬â¢ve turned down the idea if Iââ¬â¢d known Iââ¬â¢d only get one year? Or one month?ââ¬â¢ He surveys the construction, shaking his head slowly. ââ¬ËThereââ¬â¢s no benchmark for how lifeââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"supposedâ⬠to happen, Perry. There is no ideal world for you to wait around for. The world is always just what it is now, and itââ¬â¢s up to you how you respond to it.ââ¬â¢ I look into the dark window holes of ruined office buildings. I imagine the skeletons of their occupants still sitting at their desks, working towards quotas they will never meet. ââ¬ËWhat if youââ¬â¢d only gotten a week with her?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËPerry . . .ââ¬â¢ my dad says, slightly amazed. ââ¬ËThe world isnââ¬â¢t ending tomorrow, buddy. Okay? Weââ¬â¢re working on fixing it. Look.ââ¬â¢ He points at the work crews below. ââ¬ËWeââ¬â¢re building roads. Weââ¬â¢re going to connect to the other stadiums and hideouts, bring the enclaves together, pool our research and resources, maybe start working on a cure.ââ¬â¢ My dad claps me on the shoulder. ââ¬ËYou and me, everyone . . . weââ¬â¢re going to make it. Donââ¬â¢t give up on us yet. Okay?ââ¬â¢ I relent with a small release of breath. ââ¬ËOkay.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËPromise?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËPromise.ââ¬â¢ My dad smiles. ââ¬ËIââ¬â¢ll hold you to that.ââ¬â¢ Do you know what happened next, corpse? Perry whispers from the deep shadows of my awareness. Can you guess? ââ¬ËWhy are you showing me all this,ââ¬â¢ I ask the darkness. Because itââ¬â¢s whatââ¬â¢s left of me, and I want you to feel it. Iââ¬â¢m not ready to disappear. ââ¬ËNeither am I.ââ¬â¢ I sense a cold smile in his voice. Good. ââ¬ËThere you are.ââ¬â¢ Julie heaves herself up the ladder and stands on the roof of my new home, watching me. I glance at her, then put my face back in my hands. She makes her way over, cautious steps on the flimsy sheet metal, and sits next to me on the roof edge. Our legs dangle, swinging slowly in the cold autumn air. ââ¬ËPerry?ââ¬â¢ I donââ¬â¢t answer. She studies the side of my face. She reaches out and brushes two fingers through my shaggy hair. Her blue eyes pull on me like gravity, but I resist. I stare down at the muddy street. ââ¬ËI canââ¬â¢t believe Iââ¬â¢m here,ââ¬â¢ I mumble. ââ¬ËThis stupid house. With all these discards.ââ¬â¢ She doesnââ¬â¢t respond immediately. When she does, itââ¬â¢s quiet. ââ¬ËTheyââ¬â¢re not discards. They were loved.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËFor a while.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËTheir parents didnââ¬â¢t leave. They were taken.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËIs there a difference?ââ¬â¢ She looks at me so hard I have no choice but to meet her gaze. ââ¬ËYour mom loved you, Perry. Youââ¬â¢ve never had to doubt that. And so did your dad.ââ¬â¢ I canââ¬â¢t hold the weight. I give in and let it fall on me. I twist my head away from Julie as the tears come. ââ¬ËBelieve that God discarded you if you want to, fate or destiny or whatever, but at least you know they loved you.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËWhat does it even matter,ââ¬â¢ I croak, avoiding her eyes. ââ¬ËWho gives a shit. Theyââ¬â¢re dead. Thatââ¬â¢s the present. Thatââ¬â¢s what matters now.ââ¬â¢ We donââ¬â¢t speak for a few minutes. The cold breeze pricks tiny bumps on our arms. Bright leaves find their way in from the outer forests, spinning down into the Stadiumââ¬â¢s vast mouth and landing on the houseââ¬â¢s roof. ââ¬ËYou know what, Perry,ââ¬â¢ Julie says. Her voice is shaky with hurts all her own. ââ¬ËEverything dies eventually. We all know that. People, cities, whole civilisations. Nothing lasts. So if existence was just binary, dead or alive, here or not here, what would be the fucking point in anything?ââ¬â¢ She looks up at some falling leaves and puts out her hand to catch one, a flaming red maple. ââ¬ËMy mom used to say thatââ¬â¢s why we have memory. And the opposite of memory ââ¬â hope. So things that are gone can still matter. So we can build off our pasts and make futures.ââ¬â¢ She twirls the leaf in front of her face, back and forth. ââ¬ËMom said life only makes any sense if we can see time how God does. Past, present and future all at once.ââ¬â¢ I allow myself to look at Julie. She sees my tears and tries to wipe one away. ââ¬ËSo whatââ¬â¢s the future?ââ¬â¢ I ask, not flinching as her fingers brush my eye. ââ¬ËI can see the past and the present, but whatââ¬â¢s the future?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËWell . . .ââ¬â¢ she says with a broken laugh. ââ¬ËI guess thatââ¬â¢s the tricky part. The past is made out of facts and history . . . I guess the future is just hope.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËOr fear.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËNo.ââ¬â¢ She shakes her head firmly and sticks the leaf in my hair. ââ¬ËHope.ââ¬â¢ The Stadium rises on the horizon as the Dead stumble forward. It looms above most of the surrounding buildings and consumes several city blocks, a gaudy monument to an era of excess, a world of waste and want and misguided dreams that is now profoundly over. Our cadaverous cadre has been walking for a little over a day, roaming the open roads like Kerouac beats with no gas money. The others are hungry, and thereââ¬â¢s a brief, mostly wordless debate between M and the rest before they stop at an old boarded-up town house to feed. I wait outside. Itââ¬â¢s been more days than I can remember since my last meal, but I find myself strangely content. Thereââ¬â¢s a neutral feeling in my veins, balanced precisely between hungry and sated. The screams of the people in the house pierce me more sharply than in all my days of hands-on killing, and Iââ¬â¢m not even anywhere near them. Iââ¬â¢m standing far out in the street, pushing my palms into my ears and waiting for it to be over. When they emerge, M avoids my gaze. He wipes the blood off his mouth with the back of his hand and shoots me just one guilty glance before brushing past. The others are not quite there yet, not even to Mââ¬â¢s level of conscience, but there is something a little different about them, too. They take no leftovers. They dry their bloody hands on their pants. They walk in uneasy silence. Itââ¬â¢s a start. As we get close enough to the Stadium to catch the first whiffs of the Living, I go over the plan in my head. Itââ¬â¢s not much of a plan, really. Itââ¬â¢s cartoonishly simple, but hereââ¬â¢s why it might work: itââ¬â¢s never been tried before. There has never been enough will to make a way. A few blocks from the entry gate, we stop in an abandoned house. I go into the bathroom and study myself in the mirror like the former resident must have done a thousand times. In my head I jog through the maddening repetitions of the morning routine, getting into character. Alarm-shower-clothes-breakfast. Do I look my best? Am I putting my best foot forward? Am I stepping out the door prepared for everything this world has to throw at me? I run some gel through my hair. I splash some aftershave on my face. I straighten my tie. ââ¬ËReady,ââ¬â¢ I tell the others. M sizes me up. ââ¬ËClose . . . enough.ââ¬â¢ We head for the gates. Within a few blocks, the smell of the Living is nearly overpowering. Itââ¬â¢s as if the Stadium is a massive Tesla Coil crackling with storms of fragrant pink life-lightning. Everyone in our group stares at it in awe. Some of them drool freely. If they hadnââ¬â¢t just eaten, our loosely constructed strategy would collapse in an instant. Before we get within sight of the gate, we take a side street and stop at an intersection, hiding behind a UPS truck. I step out slightly and look around the corner. Less than two blocks away, four guards stand in front of the Stadiumââ¬â¢s main entrance doors, dangling shotguns over their shoulders and chatting among themselves. Their gruff, military sentences use even fewer syllables than ours. I look at M. ââ¬ËThanks. For . . . doing this.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËSure,ââ¬â¢ M says. ââ¬ËDonââ¬â¢t . . . die.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËTrying . . . not to. Are . . . ready?ââ¬â¢ I nod. ââ¬ËLook . . . alive . . . out there.ââ¬â¢ I smile. I brush my hair back one more time, take a deep breath, and run for it. ââ¬ËHelp!ââ¬â¢ I scream, waving my arms. ââ¬ËHelp, theyââ¬â¢re . . . right behind me!ââ¬â¢ With my best possible balance and poise, I run towards the doors. M and the other Dead lumber after me, groaning theatrically. The guards react on instinct: they raise their guns and open fire on the zombies. An arm flies off. A leg. One of the anonymous nine loses a head and goes down. But not a single weapon points in my direction. Painting Julieââ¬â¢s face on the air in front of me, I sprint with Olympian focus. My stride is good, I can feel it, I look normal, alive, and so I snap neatly into a category: ââ¬ËHumanââ¬â¢. Two more guards emerge with guns drawn, but they barely even look at me. They squint, they take aim at their targets, and they shout, ââ¬ËGo! Get in there, man!ââ¬â¢ Two more zombies hit the ground behind me. As I slip in through the doors, I see M and the remaining Dead veer off and retreat. As they go, their gait suddenly changes. They lose their stumble and run like living things. Not as fast as me, not as graceful, but with purpose. The guards hesitate, the gunfire falters. ââ¬ËWhat the fuck . . . ?ââ¬â¢ one of them mutters. Inside the entrance is a man with a clipboard and a notebook. An immigration officer, ready to take my name and have me fill out a stack of request forms before most likely tossing me out. The Dead have depended on this man for years to provide us with the defenceless stragglers we eat in the ruins outside. He comes towards me, flipping through his notebook, making no eye contact. ââ¬ËClose call, eh, friend? Iââ¬â¢m going to need you to ââ¬â ââ¬Ë ââ¬ËTed! Look at this shit!ââ¬â¢ Ted looks up, looks through the open doors, sees his fellow soldiers standing dumbstruck. He glances at me. ââ¬ËWait right here.ââ¬â¢ Ted jogs out and stops next to the guards, staring at the eerily animate zombies dashing off into the distant streets like real people. I imagine the look on the menââ¬â¢s faces, their stomachs bubbling with the queasy sensation that the earth under their feet is moving. Momentarily forgotten, I turn and run. I run through the dark entry corridor towards the light on the other end, wondering if this is a birth canal or the tunnel to Heaven. Am I coming or going? Either way, itââ¬â¢s too late to reverse. Hidden in the gloom under a red evening sky, I step into the world of the Living. How to cite Warm Bodies Step two taking, Essay examples
Saturday, December 7, 2019
The Strategic Marketing
Question: Discuss about the Strategic Marketing ? Answer : Introduction Strategic marketing plays a very crucial role in the market success of any organization. It is important therefore for any organization especially business organizations to put in place the right structures to promote strategic marketing in their organizations. Strategic marketing is defined the process of identifying the strategic advantages that a business organization has and allocating the necessary resources to help the organization achieve its objectives. Therefore, business organizations should put a lot of focus on strategic marketing in order to help their organizations achieve high sales volumes and improve their market share (JanMarimuthu,2015). This report critically analyzes the Oman Islamic banking paper to identify the strategic marketing plans that are in place to introduce this completely new product in the market. The first section of the report contains an analysis of key marketing issues in the paper. Some of these issues include the consumer behavior of consumers concerning the new Islamic banking model. Summary of the article The article discusses the strategic issues the new Islamic banking model is going to face in the Oman market. The first part of the paper discusses the sustainability of the Islamic banking model. Interest in Islamic financial products increased around the yaer2010 after the organizations which were involved in Islamic banking were found to be least affected by the global crisis of 2009. The consumer behavior towards this product is positive since there is a lot of uptake of the idea among many Islamic countries especially in the Middle East. The industry is estimated to be worthy over $1,000billion. The future growth potential of the industry is very high according to Wigglesworth (2001). There is increasing expendable income among young consumers in Oman means that the banking sector will have increased demand for loans especially from the youth who are the majority in the country. The Islamic banking system expects to face stiff competition from conventional banks that aim to ente r the market through the windows model. These banks already have an established customer base and therefore banks specializing in Islamic products will be at a disadvantage. Branding is expected to be an area of concern especially for conventional banks since they will have a lot of convincing to do especially to customers who understand the working of Islamic banking. The new Islamic banks will position themselves as being unique in their operations and application of Sharia law in the banking system. Strategic role of marketing in the contemporary perspective This paper will use the articles by Alharbi (2015) about development of Islamic banking and the article by Hussain and Shah (2014) about Islamic banking and Finance in India and Sri Lanka. This section critically analyzes the article on Islamic banking in Oman by comparing and contrasting it with what the two peer reviewed journal s discuss. The marketing of new Islamic banking system in Oman is done after thorough and extensive research has been done on the products and the consumer behavior of customers in the market. According to (JanMarimuthu, 2015).when developing an effective marketing strategy for a business enterprise, the needs of the consumers must be given utmost priority. This is because customers are the main reason why the product is being introduced in the first place One of the major roles of marketing for an organizational is that it helps the organization to identify its competitive advantages (Alharbi, 2015). This is very important because, it helps the organization to know the areas that it is ahead of its competitors in the market. The organization can then use the identified competitive advantages to develop products that are more responsive to the needs of the customers. Identification of the competitive advantages also helps the company to specialize in areas that it uses the minimum amount of resources to maximize output. From the article on introduction of Islamic banking in Oman, the competitive advantage that the new banks are going to enjoy is that of specializing in Islamic banking products only and therefore attract customers who are not satisfied by conventional banking system. The competitive advantage that the new system is expected to enjoy and use to compete with customers may be undermined by the already established conventio nal banks and therefore making it difficult for new companies entering the industry. Product positioning is an important factor discussed in the Oman article. The new Islamic banking institution in Oman will face a challenge in positioning themselves in the market. According to (Hussain Shah, 2014) new Islamic institutions face a lot of challenges in positioning itself in the market. One of the reasons why this institutions find it difficult to position themselves is that there exist many other financial institutions that are offering almost similar products and services as the new Islamic banking institutions. The new Islamic banking institutions in Oman will also find it difficult to differentiate itself on cost. This is due to the fact that Islamic banking system does not allow interest rates in lending and this reduces the revenue of such financial institutions (Alharbi, 2015). Marketing has a strategic role in that it is the means through which the consumers are informed of the existence of the product, place where its offered, its price as well as the features of the product (Hussain Shah 2014). The combination of the four Ps of marketing is very important. Unless customers are made aware that a product exists and further information on the product is availed, it is very difficult for the customers to come and buy the product (Greuning Iqbal, 2008). Customers are made aware of the product using various methods and techniques such as mainstream media advertising such as TV and Radio, outdoor advertising through billboards, social media advertising as well as promotional efforts such as road shows and event sponsorship. The new Islamic banking product has to be made popular to customers by carrying out promotional efforts to inform customers of the need for the product given the religious and cultural factors that influence customer behavior in this count ry (Hussain and Shah, 2014). The relation with customers and ease of use of the Islamic banking system will be crucial in determining the success of this new system The availability of highly skilled labor force locally is cited as one of the major factors that will influence the growth of Islamic banking in the Sultanate. This is because, to introduce the system successfully, employees of the financial institution must have the right training and experience to understand the operations of the system. The article by (Ahmed, 2015) also recognizes the role played by educational institutions in producing graduates who are well equipped and trained in Islamic banking operations. The cost of on job training would otherwise be very high for the new entrants in the market. Competition in the industry in Oman is seen to be very stiff. The introduction of Islamic banking in Oman is expected to face very stiff competition from established financial institutions which may use the Window strategy to venture into the Islamic banking market. This is expected to be a disadvantage to the company since the banks have an already established customer base. This therefore means that once the conventional banks start offering the same products and services as Islamic banks, the new Islamic finance institutions will be at a disadvantage. Alharbi 2015 also argues that it is common for banks offering specialized Islamic banking to face competition from established conventional banks. Competition will not be as stiff as imagined since it will be a bit difficult for the existing conventional banks to position themselves again in the market. Application of the articles to Omani market The new Islamic banking product in Oman will definitely face challenges in its implementation but there is huge possibility of the product becoming successful in the market (Jan and Marimuthu, 2015). The market share of the Islamic banking product cannot be accurately predicted because the product is completely new. Information gathered on demand of Islamic banking products that are in line with the Sharia Laws is very important in marketing of the product. This is because the marketers already know what the consumer needs and therefore, the marketing of the product will be consumer focused. When it comes to practical marketing of this product after its implementation has begun. It might be found that the demand was not as high as was predicted. This may be majorly due to religious and culture influence which may make potential customers to be reluctant in taking up the new idea. This section of the report compares both the findings and discussions in the two journal articles discuss ed above with the Oman market. On competition, the article by Alharbi (2015) says that the level of competition is high for financial institutions that are entering the Islamic banking industry. The level of competition is particularly high especially in countries where the conventional banking system already exists. Alharbi argues that the conventional banks tend to react to the entry of new firms in the market and start offering the same products and services hence locking out the new firms. However, in Alharbi (2015) argues that competition is less intense in countries that are very conservative religiously since conventional banking system does not work in this country. Compared to the environment in the Oman market, it is found out that the competitive environment in most countries is almost the same. In both the Oman article and the articles by Alharbi (2015) and Hussain and Shah (2014), the consumers are seen to be very rationale. Consumers are rationale when making decisions on what to buy. The customers are very sensitive to prices and the quality of products and services offered by firms in the market. Another important consumer behavior found in this analysis is that consumers are not loyal to the brands or products they consume. This therefore means it is easy for new firms to attract new customers from the existing financial institutions. Branding and positioning by new Islamic banking financial institution is difficult even in countries like India, Pakistan, and Indonesia. This is mainly because, the existing industry player have diverse products that are almost similar to those offered by institutions using the Islamic banking model. The existing financial institutions enjoy economies of scale since they already have a huge customer base and therefore it is easy for the companies to offer products and services at a lower cost. The branding of the institutions under the new model will also be difficult since it will depend mostly on religious factors and consideration. This may not be so appealing to people who are not Muslims or Muslims who are not so much into Sharia law. However, it is possible to brand the institutions based on other factors such as good customer relations and use of advanced and unique technology in banking. The article on Islamic banking in Oman has various strengths. One of the strengths of the article is that it has clearly identified the market demand of the product through a comprehensive market research of the target market. This will help in coming up with a concrete plan for the new business while possessing all the necessary information concerning the market. The other strength of the paper is that it has analyzed the external environment that the business is expected to be subjected to. This information includes political environment, cultural environment, economic and technological environment The weakness of the paper is the fact that it has not analyzed the challenges that the introduction of the new Islamic banking product is going to face in the market except the religious factor that is very crucial in this market. The paper should have evaluated and analyzed all the potential challenges that the new form of banking in Oman was likely to face including operational challenges, infrastructural, logistical, competition and many more (Jan and Marimuthu, 2015). Conclusion Strategies are very important when introducing a new product into a new market. Therefore an organization needs to put a lot of emphasis on marketing especially for a new product. Marketing helps to inform customers of the existence of the product and how these products help in fulfilling the needs of the customers. The critically analysis of the role of strategic marketing in helping to introduce Islamic banking in Oman has provided an insight on what is needed to introduce a product in such a market successfully. This paper analyzes and discusses journal articles which relate to the article on Islamic banking system in Oman. Differences and similarities are identified on the challenges and the environmental factors affecting the industry. The third section contains a comparison of the articles discussed and the case of the Oman market .Despite the fact that it is a relatively new product, a case study of the performance of the product in other markets is important in providing insi ght into what is needed to succeed in this industry. The paper has various strengths and weaknesses with its main strength being the fact that it has done adequate market research on the industry in which the business is going to operate. References Akgu?Ndu?Z, A. (2009). Studies in Islamic economics: (Islamic banking and development). Rotterdam, Islamitische Universiteit Rotterdam Schoon, N. (2009). Islamic banking and finance. London, Spiramus Press. Application of the articles to Omani marketAlharbi, A. (2015). Development of the Islamic Banking System. Journal of Islamic Banking and Finance, 3(1) Greuning, H. V., Iqbal, Z. (2008). Risk analysis for Islamic banks. Washington, D.C., World Bank Hussain, S. and Shah, I. (2014). Islamic Banking and Finance in India and Sri Lanka. Journal of Islamic Economics Banking and Finance, 10(1), pp.181-196 Jan, A. and Marimuthu, M. (2015). Sustainability Profile of Islamic Banking Industry: Evidence from World Top Five Islamic Banking Countries. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 7(5)
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