What Are the Results of the Effort of the Civil Rights Movement Essay

What Are the Results of the Effort of the Civil Rights Movement - Essay Example The Southern Christian Leadership Conference started when the Montgomery Bus Boycott that began after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give her seat on a bus to a white man. This incident lasted for more than a year and was pacified and ended by two prominent ministers during that time who were Ralph Abernathy and Martin Luther King Jr. The black leaders led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference from the Southern Part of the United States. The Southern Leaders Leadership Conference fought for their rights and their philosophy to uphold the rights of the African Americans not with the use of force and strength but with the use of propaganda and other forms that ensures nonviolence. Since they initially started in protecting the rights of the Black people in America, they, later on, emerged to also be involved in protecting human rights on a global scope. These people such as Luther and Aberthany along with their followers have this sense of devotion to their country the territory of their state should be equivalent to the boundaries of the nation as well as with the fact that they are proud of their color and they are confident that they have the right to live together with the other Americans. The nationalist ideology has led people to divide people in terms of â€Å"us† and â€Å"we†. The individual has no choice which group he wants to support for there are instances that ethnicity or race becomes the basis for this division. As we all know, a race is a factor we have no control of. Nationalism has this characteristic of universality wherein it establishes the claims as to how the world should be logical or arranged.

Forever Free

Forever Free Exhibit Essay Forever Free, an exhibit held at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California and inspired by Mr. Abraham Lincoln’s promotion and assertion of Emancipation Proclamation, is much related to the written account of Frederick Douglass’ â€Å"narrative of his life as an American black slave† with special regards and attention to its both focus and objectives. Body At the Forever Free exhibit, the implicit objective was to stimulate ambiance of America’s bludgeoning, sadistic, and historical past. For the visitors to commemorate the beginning of the â€Å"anti-black slavery,† Mr. Abraham Lincoln distinguished and proclaimed the pressing need for the aforementioned act, Emancipation Proclamation to denounce and suppress the proliferating Black slavery. Moreover, the exhibit included several sentimental stuffs like: letters made and signed by Mr. Abraham, and the contents of his proclaimed act, the handkerchief signed and belonging to Lincoln’s wife, Ms. Mary Lincoln, and some photographs taken depicting the long time slavery in America. Inspired by Lincoln’s provision of welfare among the Blacks, the theme of the exhibit was carried out successfully (Giller, 2008). On the other hand, the â€Å"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave,† tackled the same insatiable thirst for freedom against the injustice, discrimination, and evil acts suffered by the Black Americans (Douglass, 1997). Conclusion The Forever Free exhibit rendering commemoration to Abraham Lincoln’s pursuit for the liberation of the slaves (Giller, 2008), together with the striking and overwhelming account of Frederick Douglass’ personal traumatic experience of the unjust slavery, both presents the truth of the need for liberation, love, and respect for all human race as everyone is a son of one Divine (Douglass, 1997). References Douglass, F. (1997). Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave. Retrieved October 31, 2008, from, http://sunsite. berkeley. edu/Literature/Douglass/Autobiography/01. html Giller, M. (2008). Forever free-Abraham Lincoln and the emancipation proclamation. Retrieved October 31, 2008, from http://www. reaganlibrary. com/pressrelease. asp? press_id=135

Strategic Development History Of Apple

Strategic Development History Of Apple This report will explore the strategic development history of Apple Inc. (previously Apple Computer, Inc.), its current strategies and form the basis of Apples future strategy in the form of strategic recommendations which Apple Inc. can persuade to get sustainable competitive advantage and higher growths in the future. The success of a strategy is determined by the companys initiative actions, how well it anticipates competitors responses to them and how well companys anticipates and reacts to its competitors actions. In strategic development we will analyse how Apple establish a framework for setting its direction and determined the criteria to take strategic decisions. After having analysed it, the report will depict its current strategic situation by doing macro and micro analysis and on the basis of it, the possible future recommendations will be suggested. Introduction: Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and sells consumer electronics, personal computers and computer software. It is best known for its products like iPhone, ipod and Macintosh computers. The company was established in April 1, 1976 in Cupertino, California and incorporated in January 3, 1977. As of September 26, 2009, Apple had 34,300 full time employees and 2,500 temporary full time employees worldwide1. It had worldwide sales of $42.91 billion in its fiscal year ending September 26, 20092. It has more than 284 retail stores3 as of January, 2010 and online store where software and hardware products are sold. The financial Data of Apple Inc. for 2009 are as: Financial Data of Apple Inc. for 20094 Financial Fiscal as Ended on 26-09- 2009 Total Revenue 42,905m Gross Profit 17,222m Total Cash Flow 2,997m Net Income 8,235m Total Asset Value 47,501m 1 www.apple.com 2 Revised Request Quarterly Income Statement Apple Inc. January 25,2010. 3 Apple Tablet Media Event Today. Come See Our Latest Creation MacRumors. January 27, 2010 accessed on [17 July 2010] 4 http://www.google.com/finance?fstype=iiq=nasdaq:aapl Strategic Development Overview: Apple Inc. has managed to create substantial value in the highly competitive consumer electronic and computer industry by innovating and forging a path considerably different from those of the largest competitors in the industry, successfully differentiating its products from those of the competition by choosing to focus on quality, superior customer service and design elegance while outsourcing actual manufacturing to most trusted original equipment manufacturers. Even though despite of this fact Apple has created for itself, the stiff competition within the industry and other external factors present formidable challenges to the firm. The Early Years 1976- 1980 Apple I was the first computer introduced by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronal Wayne. It was sold as the motherboard with Central processing unit (CPU), RAM and the basic textual video chips. By the end of 1970s Apple had a staff of computer programmers and designers and a production line. After Apple II they introduced Apple III in May, 1980. The main competitors for Apple were IBM and Microsoft competing for market share. In 1984 Apple launched Macintosh which was initially sold well but the follow up sales were not strong. The computer industry destiny changed when the Laser writer were introduced. The Mac was powerful in the market due to its advanced graphics capabilities which was already necessarily built in to create the intuitive Macintosh GUI. At that time it has been suggested the combination of these three products was caused for the creation of desktop publishing market. As the desktop publishing became widespread, the sale of Apple has reached new heights and the comp any has offered its first public offerings in September 7, 1984. The reason for the Apple sustainable growth due to its leadership in the education sector, attributed to adaptation of LOGO programming language used in many schools with the Apple II. 1986- 1993 A Move in Strategy After the failure of Bulky Macintosh, Apple changed its strategy and offered Macintosh Portable in 1989. In 1991 Apple introduced PowerBook which made the basis of the modern form of ergonomic layout of laptop computer. In the same year Apple came up with its new operating system System 7 which added colour to interface and enhanced the networking capabilities. It was remained the architectural basis for Mac OS up to 2001. The success of PowerBook brought huge revenues for Apple and it seemed that nothing go wrong with Apple at that time. MacAddict a famous magazine named the period between 1989 and 1991 as the first golden age of the Macintosh. The Apples strategy to attach the market with other products like digital cameras, portable CD audio players, speakers and video consoles did not work well for Apple. The main focus of Microsoft was to gain market share with Windows, focusing on delivering software with cheap commodity where as Apple was even though was rich in engineering matter but was bit expensive. 1994 -1997 Reinvention Apple put its step in the PDA market by introducing Apple Newton which was one the first in the industry. Apple has started working on other platforms by the early 1990s such as A/U. It was needed at that time to replace the platform for Macintosh or reworked to design a powerful hardware to run the Macintosh. 1n 1994, Apple allied with Motorola and IBM. The aim was to create a new computing platform Power PC Reference Platform which would use IBM and Motorola hardware coupled with Apples software. The AIM alliance worked for Apple and Apples software left the PC far behind. Apple introduced Power Macintosh the first time of many Apple computers to use IBMs PowerPC processor. Apple adopted a new built -to- order strategy in November 10, 1997 by introducing Apple store which was tied to its overall strategy. 1998- 2005 A New Start Apple introduced iMac a new all in one computer reminiscent in August 15, 1998  [5]  . The iMac was equipped with new technology and groundbreaking design. Near about 800,000 units sold in first five months and returned Apple to profitability for the first time since 1993. In this period Apple purchased several companies to create a portfolio of professional and consumer- oriented digital production software. In 1998, Apple announced the purchase of Macromedias Final cut software giving a new signal of entering into the digital video editing market. The following year Apple had released two video editing products, one is iMovie and the other one is Final Cut Pro for the professionals. Around 800,000 users had been registered with this software by the start of 2007. Apple has opened its first official store in May 19, 2001 in Virginia and California. In the same year Apple has introduced its first iPod portable digital audio player. This product has given a new success to Apple as more than 100 million units were sold within six years. Apple has a strategy of bounding the customer to its products and doing a business a different way. Apple has given a new theme to music industry business by introducing Apples iTunes Store whereby you can download music for US$0.99 song integration with iPod. Apple has become the market leader in the online music services due to it with over 5 billion download by June 19th, 2008. 2005 -2010 New Era Apple has taken another move in its strategy of dominating the market by announcing on June 6, 2005 in the Worldwide Developers Conference that Apple would start producing Intel- based computers in 2006  [6]  . MacBook Pro and iMac became the first Apple computers to utilize Intels Core Duo CPU. By 7th of August 2007 Apple had transitioned the entire Mac product line to Intel chips. The day Apple announced its iPhone and Apple TV its share price hit $97.80, an all time high at that point and in May that price went up to $100 mark  [7]  . A next step to its success was selling the third party applications for its iPhone and iPod touch. Within a month, 60 millions application sold on this platform and brought in $ I million dollar on average. Three months later it was announced that Apple has become the third largest mobile handset supplier in the world due to the popularity of the iPhone  [8]  . Apple added a one more milestone in its success by targeting the market with its new iPad on January 27, 2010. It runs the same touch based operating system as iPhone and many of the application of iPhone are compatible with the iPad. On the launch day more than 300,000 units sold and this figure reached to 500,000 by the end of the first week  [9]  . Situational Analysis: Apple is one of the most successful companies of the time that bucked the traditional notions of what a corporate culture should look like in terms of organizational hierarchy. After doing the macro (PESTEL), industrial analysis we would be in a position to clearly analyse its current position and suggest further recommendations. Environmental Analysis: PESTEL Analysis For doing environmental analysis of Apple we will use the PESTEL analysis along with keeping of global forces as well. Demographic Economic P/Legal Environment Threats Opportunities Economic 1. Signs of economic turnaround are present but many consumers are unconvinced and spending less. Apple always sell products on premium prices so it may be out of consumer prices range 1. Economic recovery will cause spending. Apple innovative and high quality products attract the customers Demographic 1. Flattening of wages- Levelling Influence 1. Rising prices and stagnant leave workers and families with less money to spend on perceived luxury goods. 1.Apple known for high quality, dependability and long lasting products will attract customers seeking value for their money Political/Legal 1.Potential FCC Internet Regulation 2.Healthcare Reform 1. FCC internet regulations may stifle innovation on the internet, reducing new methods for Apple to capitalize the power of internet. 1.Apples useful portable device could be leveraged in modern healthcare settings, funded in part by government money, increasing demand Technological 1.Device Convergence 2.Shortening Product Lifecycle 1. Apple broad line of devices may become obsolete with the advent of multi-use portable devices. 2. Increased pressure to innovative may result in missed opportunities and inventories losses. 1. As a leader in portable devices Apple can innovate and lead the way in platform. 2. High RD commitments may propel. Apple led the industry by out-innovating competitors. Socio cultural 1.Increase desire for on-the-go devices 2. Greater concern for the environment. 1. Apples portable computers may lose relevance among new on-the-go devices. 2. Device manufacturing will be equated with pollution and climate change. 1. Apple can lead innovation in on-the-go devices utilizing RD portable knowhow. 2. Apples lead in environmentally- sound practices will be a marketing advantage. Global 1.Developing Chinese economy 2. Potential worldwide climate regulation. 1. The developing Chinese economy will require higher wages for factory workers. 2. Emissions regulation will impose huge burdens on Apples production costs. 1. Massive population with increased buying power for Apples products. 2. Apple has already made steps to improve environment- friendliness can be used to the firms advantage. Technological Global S/Cultural Industrial Analysis: For industrial analysis we make use of Porters five forces framework to assess the different forces that affect the overall industry in which firms operate. Porters Five Forces: Threat of New Entrant To analyse the threat of new entrant we have to consider the different barriers that make this threat nominal to sever. The barriers are Economies of Scale Apple had already experience of manufacturing mass- market consumer electronic devices, so Apple was not adversely affected by this barrier. Product Differentiation This trait goes in favour of Apple because Apple is the leader in the innovative products and Apple has certain amount of protection through the strength of its brand identity. But this product differentiation can be emulated to a certain degree. Capital Requirements Apple enjoys a slight advantage here but it may be quickly lost. If we talk about other companies they might have experience in manufacturing cell phones but not necessarily software. To compete with Apple they have to invest a lot on this sector. Second Apple is a leader in innovation as it uses to spend a huge capital on RD which is huge barrier for the new company to spend a significant amount of capital on RD. Access to Distribution Channels Apple remained successful in gaining access to a distribution channel and they also tied themselves exclusively to a single cell phone network. So the new entrant will have to take some time to reach to this level. So having analyzing these barriers we can say that the threat for new entrant for Apple is low to medium. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: The main supplier of Apple Inc. is Intel for microprocessor chips and Apple has strategic alliance with Intel and Microsoft as Microsoft enable Apple users to use the Microsoft Windows operating system on its machine. So, Apple has to be very careful in managing its relation with these suppliers especially with Intel. So the bargaining power of suppliers is medium. Bargaining Power of Buyers: The bargaining power of buyers is low as its only Apple which always come with new innovative products. Even though its true that there are many competitors of Apple in the market for different products but even then people wait for Apples new invention. So, clearly the bargaining power of buyers is low in case of Apple. Threat of Substitute: The threat of substitute is high as Apple products are the premium products and there are lot of companies that are making products like mobile phones (iPhone) which are very similar in functionality and in shape. Second companies like DELL, ASCER and Microsoft has started penetrating in the mobile market shrinking the market share of Apple. So keeping in view of todays scenario the threat of substitute is higher for Apple Inc. Competitive Rivalry: The competition among the giants is very fierce and everyone is fighting for large market share through intensive price cuts and changes. The competitors of Apple are Microsoft, HTC, Dell, NOKIA and others. The competition is becoming tough and tough as most of the companies which were specialist in PC related stuff have started coming in the mobile and PC tablet market. Due to this the competition has become tougher and for more market growth and share, everyone is ready to take any sore of moves like price cuts, technology change, etc. The last step to evaluate the company position in conjunction to its industry we do the SWOT analysis which will depict what sort of strength/weaknesses it has what kind of opportunities and threats it has from its surroundings. Potential Entrant Threat Medium Threat of entry COMPETITIVE RIVALRY HIGH SUBSTITUTES High SUPPLIERS Low BUYERS Medium Bargaining Power Bargaining power Threat of substitutes Porters Five Forces Framework for Apple Inc. SWOT Analysis: Strengths Ease of use High Corporate Reputation Leader in Innovation and market leader Loyal customer base Strong Top Management Creative Style Weaknesses High prices Limited Distribution Channels Compatibility issues (e.g. with IBM) Poor Quality Control/Assurance Opportunities New social devices iTunes Distribution International markets Internet Growing industry Demand for innovation Threats Economic Situation Intensive Competition Potential Litigations Potential increase in supplys costs. Price competition Value Chain Analysis: Value Chain Activity Corresponding Firm Practice, Policy/Procedure General Administration A greener Apple reduction in energy use in production and transportation to match trend in green business. Strong cash position allows the firm to internally finance expansion and development without cost of capital. Human Resource Management Selective hiring process find and attract talent Generous employee benefits program retain industry-leading talent. Technological Development Research Development expenditure increased about 66% from 2007 to 2009 Patent filing protection of important inventions and innovations in the US and worldwide Procurement Positive relationships with suppliers EICC member, working to improve working conditions, created and enforces a Supplier Code of Conduct. Inbound Logistics Automated receiving systems reduce facility footprint and space requirements. Delegate raw materials acquisition offer supervision to OEM partners who carry out acquisition. Operations Utilizes OEMs economies of scale offshore production to save money on costs of build. Internal design design and conceptualize products internally Outbound Logistics Economical/Stylish Packaging eye-catching packaging takes up less space and weight, reducing shipping costs and costs of disposal. Apple Stores/Authorized Retailers working to maintain standards over presentation of products for sale. Direct shipment ship products from China to consumer to minimize inventory build-ups in costly locations. Marketing and Sales Get a Mac Ads Various direct/indirect favourable comparisons Strategic Choices: Taking its environment, industry and value chain analysis we may give some options available to Apple Inc. for its future growth in terms of more market share and profitability. These are given as: Reducing the costs of its products and maintaining the same quality standards. Opening of more retail shops for easy access and more physical presence. Providing facility for customization of its different products like Apple Mac Book and others. Consumer electronics diversification. Option 1: Reducing the costs of Products Apple has that kind of brand which attracts everyone but the only problem is the premium prices for its products. Apple can hit the market segment which can afford reasonable prices which we can say not much low and not too much high. By slightly reducing the prices and maintaining the same quality Apple can further dominate the market and achieve more market share. By doing it the major benefit that Apple will achieve is further brand awareness and customer loyalty. Evaluation of option 1: (SAF test) A useful way of looking at evaluation criteria is to view them as falling into three categories: Suitability, Feasibility, and Acceptability Johnson, G., and Scholes, K.(1997) As far as the suitability of this option is concerned, then lowering the prices will be suitable for Apple Inc. because most of competitors of Apple they start making the same products design wise and technology wise with lower prices. The company get two benefits with this strategic option. First it will get more customers who like Apple products but cant buy due to higher prices (means more market share) and the other benefit is killing the competition. So, in my point of view this option fulfils all the three parameters of SAF test. Option 2: Opening of more retail Shops By providing more points of direct contact with the buyers will enable Apple to provide better service to customers and bring the Apple more customer and experience to more people. Apples retail stores have been largely successful, that success can be furthered in new locations within USA, UK and other countries. Apple should practice great caution to avoid over- saturation to retain the halo surrounding the stores and maintain their status as a destination. Evaluation of option 2 (SAF Test) By introducing Apple stores provided Apple with an important physical presence to act as both point of sales locations and an advertisement. Opening of more retail outlets will provide Apple more control on the image of brand and provide excellent customer services. Apple comes in the top retailers in- stores sales, generating $4,032 per retail square foot per year, beating other retailers like Tiffany Co. At $2,666 and Best Buy at only $930.  [10]  Matching success and impact like the Apple store model is hard for others to achieve. Apple possesses all resources like capital and top management to consider this option which can prove one step further in its growing success. Option3: Customization of products Dell has taken a lead from all its competitors in providing customized products to its customer through its website. Dell has set a model for its competitors. Apple can contribute to this area by offering customised products like Mac Book and other through its website. In this way you are buying your customer and giving them what they want. The customer will be more satisfied and happy with the services. Customization will provide efficient value chain management and reduces the inventory level. Evaluation of Option3 (SAF Test) Today is the day of internet and most of leading companies are trading through their websites. Now a days the customers are well IT equipped and more aware. They buy what they want not what the gives. By offering customized products you are giving the customer what they want and biding them. Apple has great intellectual assets, so it is easier to come up with business model which will facilitate Apple to provide customized products to its customers. Secondly it will require minimal capital but its results will be outstanding. There is only one time cost and life time rewards attached to this option. So considering all these aspects, this option is quite good for Apples future growth and sustainable competitive advantage. Option 4: Consumer Electronic Diversification Apple already has a well positioned diversified strategy, but it can broaden its scope while creating value in related and unrelated markets including eBooks and medical equipment. We just examine its current diversification beginning with full sized desktop computers to now a days notebook computer, mobile phones, digital music players, iPad. Despite of this broad range of diversification, opportunities are still there for Apple to avail in further diversification. Evaluation of Option 4 (SAF Test) If we take United States or UK the medical equipment and related devices are growth area of economy. As new healthcare legislation is enacted the importance of modernizing our system will come to forefront. Apples innovative and high quality portable devices would provide excellent platforms for care providers to get benefit of streamlining care. In order get more value from this area and to reduce the capital investment Apple should work with medical equipment manufacturers and core providers to establish Apples devices. Apple can open its portable and mobile platforms for development of unique and efficient medical tools using a combination of new digital medical technologies and current technology of connectivity. Good examples of future products can be digital thermometers and blood pressure monitors that connect through USB to Apple device to automatically log measurements and do real time analysis based on historical values to identify trends. Apple can take advantage of being first mover in this kind of products. After presenting the different aspects we may conclude that this option is valuable for Apple Inc. Recommendations: Based on the above analysis, it is recommended that Apple Inc. formulates a strategy of offering customized products to its consumers to gain more customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. Consumer specific customization and hardware packaging- increase product diversification and eliminate threat of competitive alternatives. It will help Apple to strip certain features and hence reduce costs. The sales will be increased and Apple will a far larger customer base. Secondly it should gain access to additional distribution channels and sales outlets in the international markets (International Presence). It has substantial presence internationally but still has to be introduced in many Asian countries including China, Arab countries and most of Africa. Apple should drive down the costs per unit to enable price reductions and attract more customers. In this way it will not capture more market share but also beat the competition increasing in the market. It should exploit its RD to innov ate, should create products with similar usability but at lower costs. Especially in the deep recession period people might respond better to lower prices. It has no doubt that Apple is very good in introducing excellent design and innovative products but we have seen a consistent problem with Apples quality control and assurance department. So, Apple should stress on improving in this area to preserve its brand image as well as to win the customer confidence on its products.

The Epic of Gilgamesh and Oryx and Crake. Essay -- compare, contrast, c

The more thought that is put into the true nature of human beings, the clearer the realization seems to be that as a species, humans are inclined to challenge limits that are thought to be understood and transcend set boundaries. This truth of human nature is quite effectively revealed in both The Epic of Gilgamesh and the novel Oryx and Crake. The Epic of Gilgamesh reveals more about the human disposition to push mortal boundaries. It explores the desire to challenge religious boundaries, which hold extreme repercussions, as well as fears that were faced when dealing with the truth of human mortality. Oryx and Crake, on the other hand, deals more with the human desire to attain eternal youth, and the moral boundaries that are pushed and most certainly crossed in those endeavours. As each text presents evidence to prove the presence of such desires in human nature, both also seem to argue that boundaries are set for reasons, and that nothing fruitful can come from the endeavour of cr ossing them. The Epic of Gilgamesh immediately begins to deal with the human disposition to push limitations for the sport in it, even when there is no necessity which requires it. The reader immediately sees the main character, Gilgamesh, portrayed in an extreme fashion through â€Å"harrying the young men of Uruk beyond reason. Gilgamesh would leave no son to his father, day and night he would rampage fiercely.† Because he was of stronger stock, Gilgamesh found himself unable to resist demonstrating his greatness in comparison to others. Although utilizing ones abilities is clearly a good thing, doing so only through the waste of others when such force is not required is clearly a frivolous pursuit. Since Gilgamesh could find no proper means whereby to... ...fferent ventures in testing the limitations of human life, they both certainly convey a definite end concerning the degree in which humans can change their fates. Oryx and Crake very directly establishes this, with the statement â€Å"grief in the face of inevitable death, the wish to stop time. The human condition,† summing up the mortal limitation and the pursuits of the society in the book quite nicely. The Epic of Gilgamesh also leaves the reader with a similar image to view the quest of breaking limitations with. The city begins and ends in the same way â€Å"one square mile of city, one square mile of gardens, one square mile of clay pits, a half square mile of Ishtar's dwelling, three and a half miles is the measure of Uruk.† Nothing about his world or city is changed despite all the trial that Gilgamesh faced throughout to challenge the boundaries that were in place.

Moral Law Vs Natural Law In The Scarlet Letter Essay

Moral Law Vs. Natural Law â€Å"At the dramatic center of The Scarlet Letter is the idea of the awesomeness and inescapability of the Moral Law, to which all else is finally submitted,† (Levy 384). Assuming that Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter exploring the relationship between Moral law and Natural law, he chooses the moral laws to be absolute. Using definitions of nature and character provided by Seymour Katz applied to the terms natural law and moral law allow an extension of Leo Levy’s claim that Moral laws are supreme. Moral law is an internalization of normalizing aspects of society it, â€Å"is acquired in time through nurture, education, and social experience. The older the individual the more fixed and stable is his character, and the less likely he is to act outside of the principles of his society or his role,† (Katz 5). The natural law is being in a condition where society cannot impose any rules or laws, â€Å"It is undirected impulse or potential energy which the individual will expend and express in various ways in the course of his life,† (4). By applying the definitions of natural law and moral law to the way Hawthorne reveals the truth in the novel and to the development of the character Pearl, Hawthorne proves that moral law is the dominant form of law in The Scarlet Letter. In the forest natural laws should be supreme. Here, the black man or devil makes his home, Mistress Hibbons goes to perform her witchcraft, and Hester and Dimmesdale commit their adultery (Hawthorne 144-145). Moral law forbids each of these three things. Only in the forest, a place where moral law does not apply, can any of these things happen. From a very early age people are taught by the moral laws that the forest contains evil. â€Å"But she fancied me asleep when she was talking of it. She said that a thousand and a thousand people had met him here, and had written in his book, and have his mark on them. And that ugly-tempered lady, Old Mistress Hibbons, was one. And, mother, the old dame said that this scarlet letter was the Black Man’s mark on thee, and that it glows like a red flame when thou meetest him at midnight, here in the dark wood.† (126) Pearl, at the age of seven, already understands the forest contains evil. This normalizing aspect of moral law teaches the society that the representation of natural  law, the forest, is evil. Thus, the moral laws quickly gain an advantage over the natural, before an individual is old enough to form their own opinion on the matter. Another way the moral law proves to be supreme is when examining another theme in the text, hypocrisy. The hypocrisy is so wide spread, even the Reverend Dimmesdale, introduced possessing an, â€Å"eloquence and religious fervor [having] already given the earnest of high eminence in his profession,† (48). This quality combined with a, â€Å"dewy purity of thought, which, as many people said, affected them like the speech of an angel,† (48) caused Dimmesdale to be perceived as a model of purity and godliness for his congregation despite committing a sin incomprehensible to them. Even after his confession his society does not believe the truth that Dimmesdale committed adultery. This shows how strong the character of Dimmesdale is imagined to be by his people. Because the truth is often obscured by hypocrisy, where the truth is found there will be a very strong reflection on the relationship between moral law, and natural law. In the forest, when Pearl asks Hester what the scarlet letter means and why she wears it, Hester lies to her child for the first time. â€Å"What does the letter mean, mother? -and why dost thou wear it?†Ã‚ ¦.And as for the scarlet letter, I wear it for the sake of its gold thread! In all the seven bygone years, Hester Prynne had never before been false to the symbol on her bosom,† (123). Hester lies to her child for the first time while they are in the forest because she is taught to be ashamed of her sin by the moral laws. These laws have a far-reaching power; their effect is felt even in the forest, the idealization of natural law. The truth about Chillingworth’s character reveals itself at the strongpoint of moral laws, the scaffold. This device serves as the deterrent for criminals where they are displayed for the public’s entertainment. â€Å"In fact, this scaffold constituted a portion of the penal machine†Ã‚ ¦but was held, in the old time, to be as effectual an agent in the promotion of good citizenship, as ever was the guillotine among the terrorists of France†, (41). The scaffold punishes people for crimes committed violating the moral  laws by exposing the perpetrator to public ignominy. The true nature of Chillingworth’s character is revealed while Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl are performing a midnight vigil on the scaffold. â€Å"To his features, as to all other objects the meteoric light imparted a new expression; or it might well be that the physician was not careful then, as at all other times, to hide the malevolence with which he looked upon his victim†, (107). This revelation occurs at the pinnacle of the puritan penal system, the enforcing agent of all moral laws. Even though the â€Å"meteoric light† might be interpreted as an act of nature, this is not the case. It comes from the heavens where the puritan society acquires the religious justification to carry out their laws. Thus the moral law is responsible for providing the truth to the reader in this instance. Another symbol coming from the forest are the Indians. They live in the forest and only periodically come under the jurisdiction of moral laws by entering a city or town. Because of this their actions and ideas can be interpreted to represent the position of natural law. In the instance when they interpret the meaning of the scarlet letter during the election day sermon their interpretation that, â€Å"the wearer of this brilliantly embroidered badge must needs be a personage of high dignity among her people†, (167) is the exact opposite of what the symbol was originally intended to mean. The symbol for nature in this case considers the scarlet letter a boon. In contrast, the scarlet letter was originally intended to be a punishment having the â€Å"effect of a spell, taking her out of ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself†. (40) This was the original function, which the moral law dictated the letter should serve. Although the letter comes to symbolize many different things throughout the text, the only one, which is relevant to examine, is the one it was intended for. Because the moral and natural laws dictate different meaning upon the scarlet letter, one positive and one negative, which one is actually the dominant meaning? The negative meaning is the dominant one; this is because the letter serves its original purpose separating Hester from her society. She lived in a house on the outskirts of the town, not in it and whenever she was in public her fellow citizens would form circles around her. The letter is a negative symbol throughout every part of the  novel barring the conclusion, and because of this the moral laws succeeded in imposing their meaning upon the letter. Another conflict between moral and natural comes in the upbringing of Pearl, Hester’s daughter. She is similar to a wild spirit and is ostracized from society similar to Hester. â€Å"Pearl was a born outcast of the infantile world. An imp of evil, emblem and product of sin, she had no right among christened infants†, (65). She was never part of her society, failing to adhere to moral laws. As a child, she had no conception of the moral laws and acted accordingly. â€Å"‘The little baggage hath witchcraft in her, I profess’, said [Mr. Wilson] to Mr. Dimmesdale. â€Å"ËÅ"She needs no old woman’s broomstick to fly withal.'† (80). In addition to the fact that the upright citizen Mr. Wilson compares Pearl to a witch, she did not understand her religion stating, â€Å"‘He did not send me!’ cried she, positively. â€Å"I have no Heavenly Father!'† (68). By not understanding religion she was not abiding by the moral laws. While still a child Pearl is unaffected by the moral laws but as she grows older she begins to adhere to them. By the end of the novel she is entirely assimilated into the moral culture. She had taken a husband and was living a typical life in Europe (177). By taking a husband she is adhering to the moral laws. While she began her life following the natural laws they eventually were overpowered by the pervasiveness of the moral. The moral laws are so powerful she could not resist their influence. Another assertion of the power of the moral laws in relation to Pearl occurs during the forest scene spanning chapters sixteen through nineteen. Here: Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl meet for the first time after the scaffold scene. During these chapters Hester takes off her scarlet letter to prove to Dimmesdale that they can be free of the present situation if they go somewhere else in the world (137). Once Pearl sees her mother without the letter she immediately does not recognize her and becomes scared. â€Å"‘I see what ails the child,’ whispered Hester to the clergyman, and turning pale in spite of a strong effort to conceal her trouble and annoyance. â€Å"ËÅ"Children will not abide any, the slightest, change in the accustomed aspect of things that are daily before their eyes. Pearl misses something  which she has always seen me wear!'† (142) Even in the forest where natural laws reign, Pearl will not approach her mother without Hester wearing the scarlet letter, the symbol the moral laws imposed upon her. The moral laws extend far beyond the edges of towns and cities expanding even into the forest. Hawthorne rejects natural laws by asserting the dominant position and influence of the moral laws. By noticing when and how Hawthorne offers the truth to the reader such as when Hester lied to Pearl in the forest setting or when Chillingworth’s character is revealed under the scrutiny of heavenly light, the moral laws are dominant. Even the chief symbol of the book, the scarlet letter, has a meaning imposed solely by the moral laws. Another character originally having a natural tendency, Pearl, loses that tendency by the end of the novel. In all of these instances the moral laws prove that they are stronger and more pervasive than the natural laws. Works Cited Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. USA: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc, 1988 Katz, Seymour. â€Å"†Ã‹Å"Character,’ â€Å"ËÅ"Nature,’ and Allegory in The Scarlet Letter† Rept. in Nineteenth Century Fiction. Ed. Blake Nevius. Vol. 23 #1. USA: University of California Press, June 1968. 3-17. Levy, Leo. â€Å"The Landscape Modes of The Scarlet Letter† Rept. in Nineteenth Century Fiction. Ed. Blake Nevius. Vol. 23 #4. USA: University of California Press, March 1969. 377-392.

Moral Dilemmas Essay

Moral Dilemmas, Moral Strategies, and the Transformation of Gender Lessons from Two Generations of Work and Family Change Women seek personal development by caring for others and men care for others by sharing the rewards of independent achievement are the traditional social norm in the 20th century. In the 21st century, people started to question whether women and men should really be separated into two distinct, opposed and unchanging moral categories. Women and men now have conflicts and tensions between family and work, public and private, autonomy and commitment, for these, gender dichotomy cannot be used to solve as in the past. Undoubtedly, gender dichotomy in moral orientation can resolve the universal tension to certain extent, but it is only prescriptive rather than descriptive. Gender is a social institution rather than an inherent trait and it is now transforming. Women now seek self-sufficiency economically and socially, they seek personal and social commitment outside the home, while men’s breadwinning role and obligation to support women and children diminish. Women and men are now facing socially structured moral dilemma. Investigating how the new generation thinks, the interview reveals that the young generation believes that it is difficult to keep a relationship with balanced autonomy and commitment. They believed that it is not morally wrong to end the relationship if the two do not get along well. Ending the relationship would be better than keeping a bad relationship, not only to the couple, but also to their children. Also, they appreciated their mothers if they work and think that both women and men should care for the family both financially and emotionally. As it seems difficult to apportion moral labor by gender-neutral strategies, women and men diverge in their opinion in gender role. Men prefer the Neotraditionalism, that is, the couple share the breadwinning but the women have to place family first, but this collide with what the women long for, autonomy before commitment, and they want to be economically independent. In my opinion, this gender transformation has significant importance to people in the 21st century, especially to women. In the past, because of the gender dichotomy, women are restrained from work and are expected to stay at home to manage the household, e. g. look after the children, do the household chores, they have to devote all their time to the family and have to give up their dreams, even if they are talented or have potential in some fields, they do not have the opportunity to explore into their careers. Also, they have to be tolerant to the household violence just because they are economically dependent and they rely on their husbands for living. They do not have the working ability because they have spent most of their time in the family and they have already been detached from the outside work society. It is also difficult for them to find jobs because of the social and cultural environment that do not encourage women working. As a result, women are trapped in the marriage for their whole life. On the other hand, the traditional gender dichotomy does not only give disadvantages to the women, men also suffer from that. Men are the sole breadwinner in the family and they have to bear the pressure to earn the living for the whole family. Because they have to work hard to support the family financially, always with long working hours, they may not have time to care for their children. They have less time and opportunity to communicate with the children and build good relationships with them. Men have no choice but to sacrifice the time with their family. Now, we are lucky that the gender difference is getting smaller and the moral obligation for men and women are not so obviously divided. Though there are still structural and cultural contradictions in the society nowadays, women and men now enjoy more freedom to choose what they want to do to attain a balance between family and work, autonomy and commitment. To help with the transformation, more family-friendly elements should be added to the society and in the workplace to help women and men to strive for their success in both their careers and their families.

Angiosperms - Definition and Examples

Angiosperms s Angiosperms, or flowering plants, are the most numerous of all the divisions in the Plant Kingdom. With the exception of extreme habitats, angiosperms populate every land biome and aquatic community. They are a major food source for animals and humans, and are a major economic source for the production of various commercial products. Angiosperms differ from non-vascular plants in that they have a vascular transport system for moving water and nutrients to various parts of the plant. Flowering Plant Parts The parts of a flowering plant are characterized by two basic systems: a root system and a shoot system. The root system is typically below ground and serves to acquire nutrients and anchor the plant in the soil. The shoot system consists of the stems, leaves, and flowers. These two systems are connected by vascular tissue. Vascular tissues called xylem and phloem are composed of specialized plant cells that run from the root through the shoot. They transport water and nutrients throughout the plant. Leaves are an important component of the shoot system as they are the structures through which plants acquire nutrition by photosynthesis. Leaves contain organelles called chloroplasts that are the sites of photosynthesis. Gas exchange needed for photosynthesis occurs through the opening and closing of tiny leaf pores called stomata. The ability of angiosperms to shed their foliage helps the plant to conserve energy and reduce water loss during cold, dry months. The flower, also a component of the shoot system, is responsible for seed development and reproduction. There are four main flower parts in angiosperms: sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels.  After pollination, the plant carpel develops into fruit. Both flowers and fruit are often colorful in order to attract pollinators and animals that eat  fruit. As the fruit is consumed, the seeds pass through the animals digestive tract and are deposited at a distant location. This allows angiosperms to spread and populate various regions. Woody and Herbaceous Plants Angiosperms can be woody or herbaceous. Woody plants contain secondary tissue (bark) that surrounds the stem. They can live for several years. Examples of woody plants include trees and some shrubs. Herbaceous plants lack woody stems and are classified as annuals, biennials, and perennials. Annuals live for one year or season, biennials live for two years, and perennials come back year after year for many years. Examples of herbaceous plants include beans, carrots and corn. Angiosperm Life Cycle Angiosperms grow and reproduce by a process called alternation of generations. They cycle between an asexual phase and a sexual phase. The asexual phase is called the sporophyte generation as it involves the production of spores. The sexual phase involves the production of gametes and is called the gametophyte generation. Male and female gametes develop within the plant flower. The male microspores are contained within pollen and develop into sperm. Female megaspores develop into egg cells in the plant ovary. Angiosperms rely on the wind, animals, and insects for pollination. Fertilized eggs develop into seeds and the surrounding plant ovary becomes the fruit. Fruit development distinguishes angiosperms from other flowering plants called gymnosperms. Monocots and Dicots Angiosperms can be divided into two main classes depending on seed type. Angiosperms with seeds that possess two seed leaves after germination are called dicots (dicotyledons). Those with a single seed leaf are called monocots (monocotyledons).  These plants also differ in the structure of their roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. Roots Stems Leaves Flowers Monocots Fibrous (branching) Complex arrangement of vascular tissue Parallel veins Multiples of 3 Dicots Taproot (single, primary root) Ring arrangement of vascular tissue Branching veins Multiples of 4 or 5 Monocots and Dicots Examples of monocots include grasses, grains, orchids, lilies, and palms. Dicots include trees, shrubs, vines, and most fruit and vegetable plants. Key Takeaway: Angiosperms Angiosperms are plants that produce flowers. Flowering plants also produce fruit which covers and protects angiosperm seeds.Angiosperms are organized into a root system and a shoot system. The supportive roots are below ground. The shoot system is composed of the stems, leaves, and flowers.Two types of angiosperms are woody and herbaceous plants. Woody plants include trees and some shrubs. Herbaceous plants include beans and corn.Angiosperms cycle between an asexual phase and a sexual phase by the process of alternation of generations.  Angiosperms are classified as either monocots or dicots depending on seed type. Monocots include grasses, grains, and orchids. Dicots include trees, vines, and fruit plants. Sources Klesius, Michael. The Big Bloom-How Flowering Plants Changed the World. National Geographic, National Geographic, 25 Apr. 2016, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/prehistoric-world/big-bloom/.  Tree of Life Angiosperms. Flowering Plants. Tree of Life Web Project, tolweb.org/Angiosperms.