Paradise Lost Character Analysis - 761 Words

Milton’s Paradise Lost created a controversy among its readers concerning the manner in which Satan’s character is depicted. Typically, in scriptural and mythical texts, Satan is portrayed as an evil and antagonistic figure that always has malicious intents and attempts to sabotage the true hero of the story. Yet in Paradise Lost, Milton’s portrayal of Satan drives the reader to consider the possibility that he may actually be a hero, or at the very least, a character that the reader can understand and relate to. The traditional image of a hero is a figure who is a fundamentally good person confronting challenges and overcoming them successfully. They display confidence and bravery, and are courageous enough to take risks. Conversely, in†¦show more content†¦Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: Here we may reign secure, and in my choice To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heavn. In order to raise the spirits of the angels and encourage them to take retribution, Satan explains that it is better to be free, even in a place as terrible as Hell, than to be Gods servants in Heaven. He explains that they are bound to nobody but themselves. Here, Satan portrays a confident and prideful image and takes on the role of a leader. He carries an air of strong determination and courage, which further adds to his heroic character. He’s standing up for himself and is encouraging his fallen angels to do the same. When he orders his army to rise, they do so very quickly without giving the order a second thought. For an instant they forget the terrible environment that they’re in and that they had been banished from heaven. â€Å"Immediately they begin to assemble in their accustomed ranks. Only a great leader could have such control over his army† (Kuntz 30). Satan successfully influences the fallen angels to oppose their creator, God, and this trait of g overnance adds on to his heroic character. Satan’s physical appearance illustrates Milton’s depiction of him as a fearless leader. When Satan is first shown in the lake of fire, he stood out of his awful and dark environment due to hisShow MoreRelatedParadise Lost Character Analysis1965 Words   |  8 PagesThe Virtues of Marriage and Culpability of Authority In modern-day society, marriage is considered to be a capstone event in people’s lives, the culmination of their romantic endeavors in a lifelong, legally recognized partnership. In Paradise Lost, Milton’s characterization of the first union of human beings—the marriage of Adam and Eve—strips marriage down to its most basic, primal form, and uses Adam and Eve to explore the relationship between obedience and autonomy. The obedience expected ofRead MoreCharacter Analysis of Satan in Miltons Paradise Lost735 Words   |  3 PagesFavorite Character in Paradise Lost One of the most intriguing characters in the epic Paradise Lost is Satan who rebels against God and chooses to live his life on his own terms. While Satan is commonly associated with evil, John Milton portrays him sympathetically and shows uses him as a tool to demonstrate the power of free will. In Paradise Lost, Satan can be considered to be the ultimate rebel. Not only does he defy God, but he also influences others to think for themselves and to blindly followRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Adam And Eve In Paradise Lost1567 Words   |  7 PagesOne of Milton’s most compelling interpretations in Paradise Lost and it’s the story of the creation involve its very first embodiments of mankind, Adam and Eve. The poem’s first depiction of Adam and Eve in their unfallen paradise accentuates their nobility, dignity and perfection, their unfallen aristocratic posture as they rule over the sacred garden of Eden. In this state of innocence, Adam and Eve discover themselv es and eventually one another, allowing them to explore and interpret their ownRead MoreThe Female Character in the Epic Stories Paradise Lost and the Ramayana1555 Words   |  7 PagesTHE FEMALE CHARACTER IN THE EPIC STORIES PARADISE LOST AND THE RAMAYANA [Name of the Student] [Name of the Instructor] [Subject] [Date] The Ramayana and Paradise Lost hold stories of ancient times that tend to explain the existence of two different cultures in the present world. Milton, the author of ‘Paradise Lost,’ concerns himself with the Christian story of the ‘Fall of man’ while Valmiki, the author of The Ramayana, tries to bring out an explanation to the goalsRead MoreSatan As A Hero And A Villain916 Words   |  4 PagesSatan as a Hero and a Villain (Analysis of Satan in John Milton’s Paradise Lost) John Milton created Paradise Lost out of twelve books of well constructed poetry. A poem depicting and going into detail of the story of Adam and Eve, man’s creation and fall. The poem focuses on the actions of one particular character, Satan. Milton introduces his readers to Satan in Book I as a hero, trying to get revenge against God for throwing him out of Heaven, being banished to Hell. But as Satan carries on withRead More A Comparison of God and Satan in Paradise Lost Essay1571 Words   |  7 PagesSatan in Paradise Lost      Ã‚   In this essay I shall be focusing on the characters of G-d and Satan from Paradise Lost by John Milton.   Within the essay I shall be attempting to elucidate on the themes of ambiguity of the two characters as well as the uncertainty of moral integrity of each, characterized by Johns Miltons use of sentence structure, private thoughts and symbolism.    Foremost I would like to look at the way the way in which Milton characterizes the characters of SatanRead MoreIs Satan A Hero Or Villain?1258 Words   |  6 PagesIs Satan a Hero or a Villain? An Analysis of Milton’s Paradise Lost The heroic qualities of Satan in John Milton’s Paradise Lost are overwhelmingly masked by his ‘satanic’ and villainous acts which qualify his character to fall into a category of villain rather than hero. Paradise Lost is an epic poem and like all epic poems, requires an epic hero with a tragic flaw. The tragic flaws of Satan are too prominent and effectual to call him an epic hero, but rather these flaws, or evil characteristicsRead MoreLord Of The Flies, By John Milton Essay1639 Words   |  7 PagesWhile reading the epic, Paradise Lost, by John Milton, something came to my mind: Lord of the Flies. There were similarities between these two readings, almost like Lord of the Flies is a biblical allegory to Paradise Lost. I was discovering biblical allusions in the novel Lord of the Flies, something I didn’t discover when I read the novel three years ago, Many debates between critics have been made about Lord of the Flies being a biblical allegory due to i ts substantial amount of allusions to Judeo-ChristianRead MoreFrankenstein1237 Words   |  5 Pageshuman development of emotions and has a factor of religion that affects it. Mary Shelly is able to portray this to the readers through the use of literary elements such as characterisation, events, shifting perspective and intertextual analysis such as â€Å"Paradise Lost†. Victor Frankenstein had a simple childhood, as he developed he gained a thirst for more knowledge, which can ultimately bring destruction towards humanity. Victor Frankenstein studied chemistry and alchemy; this requires a lot of persistenceRead MoreBiblical Analysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1376 Words   |  6 Pages Alexandria Harris Mrs. Mitchell AP Literature 16 November 2015 Biblical Analysis: Frankenstein Frankenstein by Mary Shelley often refers to the bible on a number of occasions. However, it is worth noting that many references used by Mary Shelley in Frankenstein can often be identified in Genesis. Much like Genesis, the story of Frankenstein is a viable creation story. The book of Genesis first explains the creation of man and woman, and also recounts the fall of humanity. Unlike Genesis

Visual Shopper Stop Free Essays

ualMedia Release Shoppers Stop recognised as ‘Most Respected Company in the Retail Sector’ By Business World Mumbai, February 9, 2011: The New Year has started off on a rewarding note for Shoppers Stop. India’s premier lifestyle and fashion destination was one among 20 Indian Companies honored by Business World as ‘Most Respected Companies’ across various sectors. Shoppers Stop was awarded the ‘Most Respected Company in the Retail Sector’ at the hands of the Honorable Finance Minister Mr. We will write a custom essay sample on Visual Shopper Stop or any similar topic only for you Order Now Pranab Mukherjee at the award ceremony held last evening in the Capital City. Business World’s ‘Most Respected Companies’ award is recognized as one of the most coveted awards in the country. Companies are measured not only on the basis of their balance sheets but also on the basis of innovativeness, depth and quality of top management, financial performances and returns and moreover, on qualities like ethics and transparency, quality of products and services, people practices/talent management and global competitiveness. About Shoppers Stop Shoppers Stop is a leader in the Indian Retail Sector and one of the pioneers in setting up large format department stores chain in India. Shopper’s Stop Ltd has a national presence, with over 2. 05 million square feet area across 34 stores in 15 cities viz. Mumbai (8 stores), Delhi (4 stores), Kolkata (3 stores), Bangalore (4 stores), Hyderabad (3 stores), Jaipur (2 stores), Pune (2 stores), Gurgaon, Chennai, Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Noida, Amritsar, Bhopal and Aurangabad. Shoppers Stop is the only Indian member of IGDS (Intercontinental Group of Departmental stores) along with 29 other experienced retailers from all over the world. Mr. B. S. Nagesh, Customer Care Associate Vice Chairman, Shopper’s Stop Ltd, has been recognised as an iconic retailer and was inducted into the World Retail Hall of Fame 2008. Mr. Nagesh is the only Indian retailer to take a significant place alongside more than 100 stalwarts of the global retail industry, which includes veterans like Sam Walton of Wal-Mart, Giorgio Armani, Jack Cohen of Tesco, Simon Marks and Israel Sieff of Marks Spencer; Ingvar Kamprad of Ikea, amongst others. CMAI felicitated the ‘Golden Scale Trophy’ to Mr. Nagesh in honour of this achievement. Mr. Govind Shrikhande, Customer Care Associate Managing Director, Shopper’s Stop Ltd received prestigious honours of the ‘Retail Professional of the Year’ by CMAI in 2009 ‘Most Admired Fashion Retail Professional’ at the Images Fashion Awards 2010. Images Retail Awards consecutively for two years (2008 2009) named Shoppers Stop the ‘Most Admired Retailer of the Year –CRM’. The Company has also been felicitated with ‘Retailer of the Year –Fashion Lifestyle’ at the Asia Retail Congress in 2009. Shopper’s Stop Ltd also received the ‘Best Visual Merchandising’ Award at the VMRD Retail Design Awards 2009 and the ‘Prestigious Loyalty’ award for Customer Brand loyalty in the ‘Retail Sector’ 2010 at the 3rd Loyalty Summit. Shopper’s Stop Ltd has been awarded by CMAI -The ‘Golden Scale Trophy’ as the ‘Brand of the Year’ for its STOP Ladies ethnic wear in 2008 2009, and the ‘Marketing Campaign of the Year’ in 2009. Images Fashion Awards held in 2009 recognised Shoppers Stop as ‘The Most Admired Fashion Retail Destination of the Year’ and in 2010 ‘Most Admired Large Format Retailer’ award by Gini Jony and the ‘Most Admired Partner’ by Gili. Shoppers Stop has also introduced new formats in the market viz HomeStop – the exclusive home furnishings, decor as well as furniture store and HyperCity– a premium shopping destination for Foods, Homeware, Home Entertainment, HiTech Appliances, Furniture, Sports, Toys Fashion. For further information contact – Perfect Relations Juhi Khanna @ 9820601226 Kirti Pachauri @ 9819898306 How to cite Visual Shopper Stop, Essay examples

My Last Duchess And Musee Des Beaux Arts Essay Example For Students

My Last Duchess And Musee Des Beaux Arts Essay The Poems My Last Duchess by Robert Browning and Musee des BeauxArts by W.H. Auden describes how people dont care about each other andthat world is cruel. In My Last Duchess the guy is talking the messengerfrom the duchess about how he killed his wife and was happy about it, whereas inMusee des Beaux Arts the kid is dying in water but his father or not eventhe people in the ship care about him, they just let him drown in the water andlastly the poem The Sick Rose by William Blake has perfect metaphorreflecting the behavior and feeling of a human being by comparing love to aninvisible worm, which destroys people lives. This three poem reflects peoplejust dont care about each other and people have lost the meaning of love. InMy Last Duchess the guy is describing to his how he killed his ex-wife andthat he was happy about it. He liked a girl and girl was beautiful and young. She liked to flirt around and liked everything in this world. She liked all menand women. She smiles at everyone and like everyone around her. She smiled atthe guy too but he is not happy about it because he thinks that she is his womanand she should not look at anyone else except him. Even the guy said to themessenger that, Willt Please you sit and look at her? (Browning 550),which shows she was beautiful and ones eyes would just stare at her for along time. He also said, Her mantle laps Over my Ladys wrist too much,or Paint Must never hope to reproduce the faint Half-flush that dies alongher throat Parekh 2 (Browning 550) which shows she was courteous, disciplinedand beautiful. She had a good heart, which loved everyone and made everyone gladbut the author did not like the fact she considers everyone same as him and thatshe does not pay more attention to him than others. The author also gave her agift but she considered all the gifts as the same and did not differentiatebetween a b ad and a good gift. In other she did not care about authorsfeeling and the love that author had for her. The author says, Just this Orthat in you disgusts me; here you miss, Or there you exceed the mark(Browning 550) which represents that she treats everyone equal and did not givemore importance to author. She considers author as one of nine hundred men thatshe likes. And after a while she passed the author without a smile, and thatoffended author because he really liked her and she did not cared about him. Theguy was angry with the lady and he commanded his men to kill her to show hispower over the lady. The guy says, I gave commands; Then all the smilesstopped together. (Browning 550) this shows that the author proved his powerover the lady by killing her. The guy wants her command over the lady so hekilled her and now he is regretting for his deeds. And now he asks the lady inthe picture to come back to him. He says, Willt please yourrise?(Browning 550) this shows the guy cares f rom her now, after she is dead. This whole scenario reflects that people dont care about each other. Theduchess loved everyone but the guy wanted her but did not achieve her so heParekh 3 killed her. This is a selfish and cruel world we live in. People justdont understand the feeling and the type of relationship that the otherperson is trying to follow. On the other hand the poem Musee des BeauxArts shows that people around the world dont care about each other even ifthe person is dying. The kids father made him a like wings out wax so he couldfly but he warned him by saying not to fly near sun or near water, but the kidflew near the ocean water and the wax melted and the kid fell into the ocean andwas drowning. Although the kid was drowning nobody was even trying to help himsave. His father was busy ploughing the field he did not care either. The sheepwere grazing; the dog was scratching himself on a tree; the sailor was sailinghis ship he did not want himself to get wet and did not want water on hisexpensive ship . Everyone around there was selfish and nobody cared about thekids drowning. The author says, and, the delicate ship that must have seenSomething amazing, a boy falling out off the sky, Had somewhere to go to andsailed calmly on. (Auden 592) this shows nobody cares about the boy in thewater. The author also says, Quite leisurely from the disaster; the ploughmanmay Have heard the splash, the forsaken cry, But for him it was not an importantfailure. (Auden 592) this reflect the ploughman did care about the boy justbecause it was not important to him; it was not a great failure or loss to theploughman. Nobody understands the meaning of humanity or mankind towards his orher fellow beings. This poem reflects that people love and talk to each otheronly for their own interest and not for being Parekh 4 generous or helpful. Themost amazing thing about this poem is people are following their daily routineand a boy is drowning in the ocean and nobody cares about it. This is utmostdisturbing s ituation. People have lost the meaning of humanity and mankind. Thepeople in the whole scenario as described by Auden reflects that people are justdully walking away doing their daily business and they assume that nothing ishappening around them as if it is just a normal day and its normal for a kid todrown in water. This is the most dreadful scene. And lastly the poem The SickRose by William Blake describes people have lost the meaning of love makingthem selfish and cold-hearted people. Blake says, And his dark secret loveDoes thy life destroy(Blake, 539), which show love is an evil thing and coulddestroy ones life. He also says, O, Rose, thou art sick! The invisible wormThat flies in the night (Blake, 539), which reflects that people have lost hemeaning of love and have become cold hearted. Love is compared to a sick roseand our love for others have become sick and weak. And in terms of feeling, weabsolutely have no love and even if we do, it is for some selfish purposethats why B lake calls love a sick rose. Love is like an evil spirit that in ahowling storm destroying everything that comes in its way. Thus Blake reflectsthrough this poem that everyone in the world is cold-hearted and nobody caresabout each other. According to me, all of these three poems reflect as to howpeople have become selfish and cold hearted for their own interests. In MyLast Duchess the guy is crazy and kills the duchess just prove his power butfails to reflect care, compassion and love for human being; also in Musee desBeaux Arts the kids father, the sailor and even the Parekh 5 people aroundhim do not care about he kids drowning. Everyone is doing their work as ifnothing is happening there and lastly The Sick Rose which reflects howlove has lost its meaning and people have destroyed their lives without loveand compassion. Thus according to me all the people in the world are selfish anddont care about other peoples feeling and dont have affection towardthemBibliography1). Blake, Wil liam. The Sick Rose. Literature and the Writing Process. .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a , .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a .postImageUrl , .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a , .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a:hover , .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a:visited , .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a:active { border:0!important; } .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a:active , .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue049c43ecbdadd3c128ee50aa8d2a87a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Romulus And Remus Essay PaperElizabeth McMahan, Susan X Day, and Robert Funk. 5th ed. Upper Saddle River:Prentice, 1999. 539-540. 2). Browning, Robert. My Last Duchess. Literatureand the Writing Process. Elizabeth McMahan, Susan X Day, and Robert Funk. 5thed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice, 1999. 539-540. 3). Auden, W.H. Musee desBeaux Arts. Literature and the Writing Process. Elizabeth McMahan, Susan XDay, and Robert Funk. 5th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice, 1999. 539-540.

Travelling Abroad Is a Waste of Money Essay Example

Travelling Abroad Is a Waste of Money Essay TRAVELLING ABROAD IS A WASTE OF MONEY I strongly disagree that travelling abroad is a waste of money because we can learn history of civilizations, we can learn cultures of different peoples and we can witness the greatness of Allah. Firstly, in Surah Al- Ankabut: 20, Allah says : â€Å" Travel the earth then see how He makes the first creation, then Allah creates the latter creations † What this verse indicates is the disappearance of one nation to give place to another. For instance, the nation of the Pharaohs has been replaced by modern Egypt. Other nations which have disappeared include the people of Ad and Thamud in the Middle-East. Through travelling we can learn the history and witness the remains of these civilizations. Secondly, we can learn the cultures of different peoples around the world. In Surah Ruum: 22, Allah says : â€Å" And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your tongues and colours.. †. Hence, if we travel from China across to Europe, we will see peoples of different looks, colours, sizes, cultures, languages, and ways of living. They include Chinese, Japanese, Indians, Persians, Arabs, and Europeans. All look different from one another, speak different languages, and practise different cultures. Finally, in Surah Ibrahim : 32, Allah says : â€Å" Allah made ships subservient to you to run their course in the sea by His command ,and He has made the rivers subservient to you. † This verse tells us that Allah provides the facilities for mankind to travel( by sea or river ). In so doing one can appreciate the creations and greatness of Allah. We will write a custom essay sample on Travelling Abroad Is a Waste of Money specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Travelling Abroad Is a Waste of Money specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Travelling Abroad Is a Waste of Money specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer For instance, sailing in the seas will give us the opportunity to see sharks, beautiful islands, and the huge waves. Sailing in the rivers will give us the opportunity to see the numerous floras and faunas, rapids, and waterfalls. Although travelling abroad does cost a lot of money, inconvenience and sometimes have to face some difficulty, in my opinion, travelling abroad is not a waste of money because of the benefits we can get from it. [336 words]

10 Rules for Writing Numbers and Numerals

10 Rules for Writing Numbers and Numerals 10 Rules for Writing Numbers and Numerals 10 Rules for Writing Numbers and Numerals By Michael How do you express numbers in your writing? When do you use figures (digits) and when do you write out the number in words (letters)? That is, when do you write 9 and when do you write nine? 1. Number versus numeral. First things first, what is the difference between a number and a numeral? A number is an abstract concept while a numeral is a symbol used to express that number. Three, 3 and III are all symbols used to express the same number (or the concept of threeness). One could say that the difference between a number and its numerals is like the difference between a person and her name. 2. Spell small numbers out. The small numbers, such as whole numbers smaller than ten, should be spelled out. Thats one rule you can count on. If you dont spell numbers out it will look like youre sending an instant message, and you want to be more formal than that in your writing. 3. No other standard rule: Experts dont always agree on other rules. Some experts say that any one-word number should be written out. Two-word numbers should be expressed in figures. That is, they say you should write out twelve or twenty. But not 24. 4. Using the comma. In English, the comma is used as a thousands separator (and the period as a decimal separator), to make large numbers easier to read. So write the size of Alaska as 571,951 square miles instead of 571951 square miles. In Continental Europe the opposite is true, periods are used to separate large numbers and the comma is used for decimals. Finally, the International Systems of Units (SI) recommends that a space should be used to separate groups of three digits, and both the comma and the period should be used only to denote decimals, like $13 200,50 (the comma part is a mess I know). 5. Dont start a sentence with a numeral. Make it Fourscore and seven years ago, not 4 score and 7 years ago. That means you might have to rewrite some sentences: Fans bought 400,000 copies the first day instead of 400,000 copies were sold the first day. 6. Centuries and decades should be spelled out. Use the Eighties or nineteenth century. 7. Percentages and recipes. With everyday writing and recipes you can use digits, like 4% of the children or Add 2 cups of brown rice. In formal writing, however, you should spell the percentage out like 12 percent of the players (or twelve percent of the players, depending on your preference as explained in point three). 8. If the number is rounded or estimated, spell it out. Rounded numbers over a million are written as a numeral plus a word. Use About 400 million people speak Spanish natively, instead of About 400,000,000 people speak Spanish natively. If youre using the exact number, youd write it out, of course. 9. Two numbers next to each other. It can be confusing if you write 7 13-year-olds, so write one of them as a numeral, like seven 13-year-olds. Pick the number that has the fewest letters. 10. Ordinal numbers and consistency. Dont say He was my 1st true love, but rather He was my first true love. Be consistent within the same sentence. If my teacher has 23 beginning students, she also has 18 advanced students, not eighteen advanced students. Video Recap Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Synonyms for â€Å"Leader†50 Nautical Terms in General UseEnglish Grammar 101: Sentences, Clauses and Phrases

Guide to The Communist Manifesto

Guide to The Communist Manifesto The Communist Manifesto, originally known as The Manifesto of the Communist Party, was published by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848, and is one of the most widely taught texts within sociology. The text was commissioned  by the Communist League in London and was originally published there, in German. While at the time it served as a political rally cry for the communist movement throughout Europe, it is so widely taught today because it offers a shrewd and early critique of capitalism and its social and cultural implications. For students of sociology, the text is a useful primer on Marxs critique of capitalism, which is presented in much more depth and detail in  Capital, Volumes 1-3. History The Communist Manifesto is the product of the joint development of ideas between Marx and Engels, and rooted in debates held by Communist League leaders in London; however, the final draft was written solely by Marx. The text became a significant political influence in Germany and led to Marx being expelled from the country, and his permanent move to London. It  was first published in English in 1850.   Despite its controversial reception in Germany and its pivotal role in Marxs life, the text was paid rather little attention until the 1870s, when Marx took a prominent role in the International Workingmens Association, and publicly supported the 1871 Paris commune and socialist movement. The text also captured wider attention thanks to its role in a treason trial held against German Social Democratic Party leaders. Marx and Engels revised and republished the text after it became more widely known, which resulted in the text that we know today. It has been popular and widely read around the world since the late 19th century, and continues to serve as a basis for critiques of capitalism, and as a call for social, economic, and political systems that are organized by equality and democracy, rather than exploitation. Introduction to the Manifesto A spectre is haunting Europe- the spectre of communism. Marx and Engels begin the manifesto by pointing out that those in power across Europe have identified communism as a threat, which they believe means that as a movement, it has the political potential to change the power structure and economic system that was currently in place (capitalism). They then state that the movement requires a manifesto and that this is what the text is meant to be. Part 1: Bourgeois and Proletarians The history of all hitherto existing society  is the history of class struggles. In Part 1 of the manifesto, Marx and Engels explain the evolution and functioning of the unequal and exploitative class structure that resulted from the rise of capitalism as an economic system. They explain that while political revolutions overturned the unequal hierarchies of feudalism, in their place sprung a new class system composed primarily of a bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production) and proletariat (wage workers). They wrote,  The modern bourgeois society that has sprouted from the ruins of feudal society has not done away with class antagonisms. It has but established new classes, new conditions of oppression, new forms of struggle in place of the old ones. Marx and Engels explain that the bourgeoisie have done this not just by control of industry, or the economic engine of society, but also because those within this class seized state power by creating and controlling the post-feudal political system. Consequently, they explain, the state (or, government) reflects the world views and interests of the bourgeoisie classthe wealthy and powerful minorityand not those of the proletariat, who are actually the majority of society. Next Marx and Engels explain the cruel, exploitative reality of what happens when workers are forced to compete with each other and sell their labor to the owners of capital. An important consequence, the offer, is the stripping away of other kinds of social ties that used to bind people together in society. Within what has come to be known as a cash nexus, workers are mere commoditiesexpendable, and easily replaceable. They go on to explain that because capitalism is premised on growth, the system is gobbling up all people and societies around the world. As the system grows, expands, and evolves its methods and relations of production, ownership, and thus wealth and power are increasingly centralized within it. (The global scale of todays capitalist economy and the extreme concentration of ownership and wealth among the global elite show us that the 19th-century observations of Marx and Engels were on point.) However, Marx and Engels wrote, the system itself is designed for failure. Because as it grows and ownership and wealth concentrate, the exploitative conditions of wage laborers only worsen over time, and these sew the seeds of revolt. They observe that, in fact, that revolt is already fomenting; the rise of the Communist party is a sign of this. Marx and Engels conclude this section with this proclamation: What the bourgeoisie therefore produces, above all, are its own grave-diggers. Its fall and the victory of the proletariat are equally inevitable. It is this section of the text that is considered the main body of the Manifesto, and is most often quoted, and taught as an abridged version to students. The following sections are less well-known. Part 2: Proletarians and Communists In place of the old bourgeois society, with its classes and class antagonisms, we shall have an association, in which the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all. In this section, Marx and Engels explain what it is exactly that the Communist Party wants for society. They begin by pointing out that the Communist Party is not a political workers party like any other because it does not represent a particular faction of workers. Rather, it represents the interests of workers (the proletariat) as a whole. These interests are shaped by the class antagonisms created by capitalism and the rule of the bourgeoisie and transcend national borders. They explain, quite plainly, that the Communist Party seeks to turn  the proletariat into a cohesive class with clear and unified class interests, to overthrow the rule of the bourgeoisie, and to seize and redistribute political power. The crux of doing this, Marx and Engels explain, is the abolition of private property, which is the manifest of capital, and the essence of wealth hoarding. Marx and Engels acknowledge that this proposition is met with scorn and derision on the part of the bourgeoisie. To this, they reply: You are horrified at our intending to do away with private property. But in your existing society, private property is already done away with for nine-tenths of the population; its existence for the few is solely due to its non-existence in the hands of those nine-tenths. You reproach us, therefore, with intending to do away with a form of property, the necessary condition for whose existence is the non-existence of any property for the immense majority of society. In other words, clinging to the importance and necessity of private property only benefits the bourgeoisie in a capitalist society. Everyone else has little to no access to it and suffers under its reign. If you question the validity of this claim in todays context, just consider the vastly unequal distribution of wealth in the U.S., and the mountain of consumer, housing, and educational debt that buries most of the population. Then, Marx and Engels state the ten goals of the Communist Party: Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.Abolition of all rights of inheritance.Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.Centralization of credit in the hands of the state, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly.Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State.Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State; the bringing into cultivation of waste-lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.Equal liability of all to work. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the  populace over the country.Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children’s factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, etc. While some of these might seem controversial and troubling, consider that some of them have and do exist in a variety of nations around the world. Part 3: Socialist and Communist Literature In Part 3 Marx and Engels present an overview of three different types of socialist literature, or critiques of the bourgeoisie, that existed at their time, in order to provide context for the Manifesto. These include reactionary socialism, conservative or bourgeois socialism, and critical-utopian socialism or communism. They explain that the first type is either backward-looking and seeking to return to some kind of feudal structure, or that seeks to really preserve conditions as they are and is actually opposed to the goals of the Communist Party. The second, conservative or bourgeois socialism, is the product of  members of the bourgeoisie savvy enough to know that one must address some grievances of the proletariat in order to maintain the system as it is. Marx and Engels note that economists, philanthropists, humanitarians, those that run charities, and many other do-gooders espouse and produce this particular ideology, which seeks to make minor adjustments to the system rathe r than change it (for a contemporary take on this, see the differing implications of a Sanders versus a Clinton presidency). The third type is concerned with  offering real critiques of the class structure and social structure, and a vision of what could be, but suggests that the goal should be to create new and separate societies rather than fight to reform the existing one, so it too is opposed to a collective struggle by the proletariat. Part 4:  Position of the Communists in Relation to the  Various Existing Opposition Parties In the final section Marx and Engels point out that the Communist Party supports all revolutionary movements that challenge the existing social and political order, and close the Manifesto with a call for unity among the proletariat with their famous rally cry, Working men of all countries, unite!

MEA2 Theory and Motivation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

MEA2 Theory and Motivation - Essay Example 65). As Shanks (n.d., p. 34) argues, managers do not comprehend the theory and the misconceptions regarding motivation which prevents them from implementing it effectively. Maslow opined that the physiological needs are the ones that need to be fulfilled first. Hence, man tries to feed himself first. For this, he looks for entry-level jobs. Hence, I, as a manager would encourage others to work to sustain themselves. Belonging needs are the next in line. After food, clothing and shelter, I would seek friendship, and crave for family. These needs bring with them their own set of demands. Thus, I would try to fulfill such belonging needs. After these three levels, I would satisfy my esteem needs. I look for self-confidence and seek respect from others. I would motivate others to perfect their work and the approach towards it to satisfy such needs. Self-actualization needs are the ultimate needs. One needs to pursue one’s inner talent and be creative to feel real worth. One should also encourage others to seek personally enriching activities like hobbies to unleash their full potential. Griffin and Moorhead (2014, p. 94) point out instances that people giving up well-paying jobs for more fulfilling ones. Any strategy adopted to motivate one or others should be seen in the context of its effectiveness. Strategy is a two-way street. While the strategy brings changes in one’s life, the organization for which the person works can also perceive the result of the strategy. Referring to Maslow, Stone and Patterson (2005, p.2) purport that productivity would occur only after all the five needs are satisfied. 1. If one is successful in satisfying one’s primary needs, then one has made the right choice of job. In case, individuals cannot live within their means, they should either curtail expenses on food or look for jobs that