The Madding Crowd Essay Example for Free

The Madding Crowd Essay Far From the Madding Crowd was written by Thomas Hardy in 1874. It was his fourth novel and first appeared as a monthly serial in Cornhill magazine. It received critical reviews but mostly positive notes too. Hardy continued to add to his texts extensively and made further changes for the 1901 edition. Hardy stresses in his text the happiness of the time period in which the story was set. He did this in order to gain the audiences interests and to make sure the story line held a permanent place in the monthly magazine. He achieved this by using the audiences imagination to such an extent as they were to imagine a life in the country side, which was regarded peaceful and tranquil. His targeted audience were people living in cities who wanted to hear about the rural paradise that he so successfully describes. Whilst Hardys Dorset was only partially reality and partially fictional, it was still the life of the 17th century which he displayed in his novel. In some way, hardy makes the reader oblivious to the reality of life in the country in that period of time, which was in fact a time of hardship, starvation and squallier conditions. The Story is based mainly around the timid and unstable love shared between the two main characters Gabrielle Oak and Bathsheba Everdene. It is love at first sight for Gabriel from the very first moment he sets eyes on this dark haired beauty sat stationary on a mound of goods. Although clearly taken aback by her clear display of vanity as she, seemingly for no understandable reason, took a looking glass to survey herself attentively, he looks back on the experience fondly, which just proves how enthralled he is by her. I find this unique quality Bathsheba posses extraordinary; she seems to have Gabriel enticed even before being properly acquainted with him. Bathshebas vain, independent and certainly wild personality is very eccentric and unusual for that time period. Also considering her ranking in social status is at first not very high but yet she accomplishes to not only mix with higher status members but also tease and be rather cheeky towards them too. She was quoted wild before she was rich! This just confirms how much of a misfit she is for that era. Hardy sets it like a mad game of cat and mouse between them, where Gabriel is persistently jumping through hoops and bending over backwards to satisfy Bathsheba, and sticks by her and stays loyal to her by everything they go through. She dangles herself in front of him at every opportunity, showing herself off as his prize, but however hard Gabriel works he never seems to get any closer to his most desired possession; Bathsheba. The audience is made to travel alongside Gabrielle and Bathshebas journey of love which suffers tremendous ups and downs and misconceptions. Hardy makes clear at the beginning of their relationship who is superior and most dominant. Bathshebas first encounter with Gabriel is very brief but momentous. When Gabriel generously steps in to pay the twopence toll that Bathsheba so stubbornly refuses to part with, he receives in return no more than a backward glance. she carelessly glanced over him, and told her man to drive on. How she passes without showing the slightest bit of gratitude makes it seem like such acts are standard procedure and nothing deviant to Bathsheba. Having set out to satisfy her and possibly earn a fragment of compassion, Gabriel actually achieves the reverse and irritates her if anything. By paying her toll he had taken away the point Bathsheba had been fighting for and given in to the miser. The way she glanced over Gabriel not stared or gawped over him gives a sense of flirtatiousness which is very alluring. Also how she looked over him illustrates control and power. A few nights later Gabriel is encapsulated by an unexpected performance in which he witnesses secretly in his hut. It is evident that the instant he catches Bathsheba riding hard, in the manner hardly expected of a woman, whilst avoiding the low hanging branches and in the very revealing position she rides in, that his self control shatters to the point that he falls for the books heroine. Soon after, when Gabriel naively admits to having witnessed this incident, Bathsheba shows to be exceedingly irritated and fractious, but presumably above all embarrassed. Just to think that Gabriel would be awoken a few nights to come by the succulent lips of Bathsheba, not in the way that he so longingly yearned for, but in the course of saving him from the jaws of death. For that era it would have been a great act to have carried out, as their accustomed ways then where that men tended for everything and women played no major role. Even in this day it would be seen as a grand undertaking, for we seldom hear about female saviours, normally they are all heroes (MEN). Gabriel achieves to wind up Bathsheba once again as a result of his juvenile behaviour. Just as they finally manage to accept a slight level of intimacy with each other, Gabriel, being his usual untactful self, succeeds into stepping straight into the next puddle of misfortune. Instead of holding her hand when she permits him to, he held it but an instant before returning to her. This shows how shy any timid Gabriel is in the presence of Bathsheba. On the other hand reveals how playful and cheeky Bathsheba likes to be. I think that although the whole time Gabriel has been fighting and waiting for the time that he can share intimate moments with her, now it is actually here and his chance lies in front of him, he doesnt know how to act and suddenly turns shy and becomes slightly reserved. In the Victorian days, such behaviour would not be expectable, for a woman (especially not of her social class) to be cheeky and play games with a man. As then women were to respect men and do as they were told. Whereas nowadays we are much more open about things like this and would not be atypical behaviour at all but just ordinary flirtatiousness between two people.

Market analysis of Stratsim management simulations

Market analysis of Stratsim management simulations StratSim management simulations are on-line games pioneered by Michael Deighan and Stuart W.James from Virginia USA aimed at giving students a wider exposure in the real world business arena. The initiators perceived students to view the simulations as a unique learning event where the knowledge gained so far within the academic years could be now made into practices. Quintessentially, apart from being a learning experience it was anticipated to bring a challenge to both managers and executives. According to the case, This is far easier to say than to achieve. 1.1. Industry Overview StratSim management simulation was a game-like, all about different firms operating in an automobile industry whose managers compete to the maximum by setting goals and objectives that are intended to outwit its immediate and within industry competitors. The managers used efforts to the best of their abilities so as to ensure right decisions are put forward just to earn superb profits due to greater sales ascribed by the management. Altogether, throughout the simulations there had been a total number of seven (7) firms ranging from firms A, B, C, D, E, F A and G. The initial alphabets of each firm meant that its respective vehicles began with either of them from A until G. All these firms had a similar starting point to commence its operations including funds. Among the firms, the best one was to be judged on performance bases mainly in terms of market share, market value, income generated as well as efficiency in playing with the marketing tools i.e. marketing mix (4 Ps). 1.2. Firms Overview Firm F was a group formed by four members who are Raya Nassor, Sarah Alley, Shahista Hasmani and I, the author of this report. Firm F comprised of three (3) vehicles which were Fantasy, Fast and Fish while their classes were Family, Truck and Economy respectively. I worked hand-in-hand with my colleagues in making the best decisions for our firms survival in an ocean of high waves of competition. The firms utmost intention was to position itself as a market leader by entering new markets and meeting the needs and desires of customers through vehicle attributes. However, there was a class which wasnt served by almost all the rival firms. It was known as AEV which must be addressed as technology modern with integrated marketing efforts. As far as Firm F is concerned, my colleagues and I decided not to opt for it as our firm was keen enough on cost minimisation and not spendthrifts of resources. 2.0. Mission and Vision Mission Statement Mission statement aims to provide employees and stakeholders with clarity about the overall purpose and raison dà ªtre of the organisation. (Johnson et al 2009, p.112) According to Peter Drucker (father of modern management), what is our business? is all about its mission. It is also known as creed of statement. Firm Fs statement of purpose could be: To address different consumer segments desires through value creation with respect to their financial capability when it comes to automobiles and eventually ending-up with immense profits generated from sales. Vision Statement A vision statement is concerned with what the organisation aspires to be. Its purpose is to set out a view of the future so as to enthuse, gain commitment and stretch performance. (Johnson et al 2009, p.112) Therefore, firm Fs dream is as follows: To be a company of the people, for the people and by the people in the automobile industry. 3.0. External and Internal Analysis These are the frameworks used to carry out an analysis of an organisations progress by examining two major extremes, the inner (internal) as well as the outer (external) environments. 3.1. PESTEL The PESTEL framework categorises environmental influences into six main types: political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal. (Johnson et al 2009, p.25) The external environment is much more complex than internal because the earlier could exert enormous pressure to firm F to the extent of determining its ways to carry on its operations. Now let me examine all the six factors while reflecting firm F. Political This refers to the roles played by the government together with the degree of countries stability which will influence production of the motor vehicles for firm F to move on or lag behind. Also, this factor will determine whether the firm is undermined by a particular set of restrictions in its business such as not manufacturing vehicles which are similar to those possessed by the government. Throughout my analysis, all the firms including firm F were operating in a peaceful environment for the following reasons: Firms were increasingly thinking on product development and further production. Various customer categories continued to buy automobiles of their desire as they did not doubt the political situation in their areas. Increase in the number of dealers in all the extremes of a compass direction. Economic Within the course of the game, the business cycle wasnt predictable due to the fact that pricing structures employed by the automobile firms was different to one another. Firm F and other were aggressive towards increasing the dealer discount rates thinking that it would boost its motor vehicle sales and hence increase its profitability. However, the economy of the firms operating in the simulation kept on deteriorating with reference to the starting market shares, market values, stock price and overall net income. At the end, economies were badly shaped. Social This refers to the society in which the firms are operating their automobile business. Within the society, people differ in culture and demography. Some had been considering others as their point of reference in buying certain cars. Also, its obvious that as there are many automobile firms means more vehicles down the roads and hence more traffic collisions to the extent of delaying people planned activities during the day. Technological Advancement in technology was restricted among the firms as there were maximum limitations of technological capabilities in interior, styling, safety and quality extremes for which not a single firm could exceed. Above all, the firms were given an opportunity to make developments and marketing for a new class i.e. AEV which at the start had no introduced vehicle. The AEV being technology-driven, it is possible that it could use electricity, gas or other means. From my narrow view, I perceive AEV development to be more risky. Environmental Here Im greatly concerned because while vehicles are developed who knows how the waste materials are damped. This may have greatly deteriorated the soil and the species inhibiting in and on. These vehicles emit green house gases which add more health concerns to its own users through pollution after the fuel has been burnt in the engines. Legal It is up to the government to make sure that, a firm which goes against the labour laws, health and safety regulations, environmental preservation and trade practices are debarred from operating in the automobile industry. The government should enact laws which limit the number of vehicles to be owned by a single person unless it is big company with large operations in-order to minimise pollution on air, land and water sources. 3.2. Porters Five Forces Model According to Michael Porter, there are five cut-throat forces that demonstrate the rules of competition within the automobile industry and which determine both industry attractiveness and the degree of profitability. These forces are: Threat of new Entrants Throughout my analysis, I realised that for a firm to enter into automobile industry is not that much easy due to the reasons that, too much investment funds will be required to have a successful starting point as a matter of fact its not all about producing but knowing the needs of the market through Research and Development (RD) which costs greatly. For late movers, enjoying economies of scale will be highly minimal because there are giants already operating in large scales. Some of the giants may have done either backward or forward integration which may distract new entrants. Hence, the threat of new entrants in the automobile industry is low but firms need to be extra careful as the world is dynamic. Threat of Substitutes There are plenty of substitutes to vehicles but it doesnt mean people will shift towards them i.e. bicycles, scooters and walking. I dont expect people to abandon automobiles due to increasing costs instead people will shift to more economical ones from luxurious. Hence, the threat of substitutes is medium. Bargaining power of Suppliers Suppliers degree of power is low due to the existence of a big number of components and parts distributors in the automobile industry. It is likely for a manufacturer to switch from one supplier to the other. On the other side, firms at StartSim are likely to enjoy low prices of components because suppliers are many. Bargaining power of Buyers In the StratSim world, this is high as customers are likely to navigate from one manufacturer to another if their needs and desires are not well addressed considering the fact that, there are almost seven (7) firms operating in automobiles. Reluctantly, firms will be forced to stick on customers decisions on the requirements, pricing and other vehicle attributes. Customers are the core and a major reason for the firms existence. Rivalry Intensity This is very high because of the presence of many firms including firm F operating in the automobiles. These firms used various business strategies which have got differing effects to the competition intensity. Hence, the degrees of profitability and market shares will differ at large. 3.3. SWOT ANALYSIS This is a framework used to examine internal and external environment. Strengths (Internal) Firm Fs names of its motor vehicles were unique i.e. Fantasy, Fast and Fish which couldnt be easily imitated by its rivals. Weaknesses (Internal) Mismanagement of stocks which had a greater fall in value together with more inventory days. Failure to make proper use of the marketing tools i.e. promotions and prices. Firm Fs product ranges didnt compete effectively with those of its competitors. Opportunities (External) The AEV class vehicles could be a platform for firm F to maximise its market share and sales growth. Poor performance in other firms could allow firm F to gain more customers who couldnt benefit from the earlier firms. Moving into markets which were not served before through market and product development. Threats (External) Continuous technological developments for which firm F couldnt cope. Global economic recessions resulting to fall in currencies and slowing vehicles demands. Automobile industry being competitive, firm Fs employees may have been head-hunted by other rival firms leading moving away the company secrets. 4.0. Strategic Planning Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term, which achieves advantage in a changing environment through its configuration of resources and competences with the aim of fulfilling stakeholder expectations. (Johnson et al 2009, p.3) Planning refers to making decisions on which strategic choices to carry forward in the course of the business. 4.1. Basic Strategy Firm Fs long term strategy is to offer vehicles with the lower possible investments but in maximum numbers with the intention of increasing the net cumulative income and market share from period 1 until period 4 with much focus on the Family class. 4.2. Technology Firm F thought that to go hand-in-hand with advancing technology as not necessary because it could lead it away from high profitability. Instead minor upgrades in the vehicle attributes are considered. Technology will be used to minimise wastage so as to increase productivity. 4.3. Financial Control The management of firm F aspires to have immense sales and increasing profitability but at same time controlling Research Development as it wont like to spend a lot for it. It looks forward to increase assets held while decreasing liabilities including debts. 4.4. Marketing Firm F intend to create awareness to both society and potential customers through advertisements and promotions. Also, efforts will be done to review pricing structures and the vehicles with related products to be of value to customers. Distribution points will be monitored too. 4.5. Future Development The management of firm F looks forward to do major upgrades in its motor vehicles if the level of profitability will permit it to do so. Otherwise, the kind of development which is expected could be maximising of the firms plant production capacity. 5.0. Lesson I learnt from simulation exercise I came with a mindset that a firms market share could be inversely proportional to net cumulative income. Also, it wasnt a good idea at times to discuss with members from rival groups as my group was at last decision mislead by another group leading to its low income and stock price too. Teamwork is the essence towards achieving success as decisions were jointly made by group members who differed in knowledge, background and experience. 6.0. Conclusion To me, it was much lucrative due to the fact that I had been exposed from theoretical to practical because the simulations made me think outside the box as to whether the strategies I took part in could outwit competitors. Finally, I agree that a business without strategy wont have a direction.

Club Drugs Essay -- essays research papers

It’s 6 o’clock on a Saturday morning and while some teenagers are enjoying the extra hours of sleep, many are still bouncing around to the sounds of techno music. Thousands of teenagers and even some adults gather into clubs decorated with black lights, disco balls, and tons of smoke machines. Their hearts are pounding and their pulse is racing at the speed of light, all compliments of designer drugs known as club drugs (National Institute on Drug Abuse). Changing the molecular structure of an existing drug or drugs to create a new substance creates designer drugs (Kusinitz 151). The all night dance parties, known as raves, are about the wildest thing going from midnight till dawn, and often beyond. Just because these drugs may portray something that may sound like fun, the downfall of these drugs make you think twice before taking them at the club. Raves are becoming more popular than ever and these designer drugs are becoming even easier to get a hold of (Kusinitz 46). When asked, over 50 percent of high school seniors said they knew they could get ecstasy â€Å"fairly easily† or â€Å"very easily† if needed (National Institute on Drug Abuse). Since untrained amateurs commonly create designer drugs in underground laboratories, the drugs can be dangerous (Mass 16). Among all designer drugs, MDMA, or Ecstasy is the most commonly used (Kusinitz 47). Others include Ketamine known commonly as Special K or â€Å"K†, and LSD also known as acid. Ecstasy is used at the party and rave scene for it...

Post 1900 War Poetry :: Wilfred Owen Alfred Tennyson War Poems Essays

Post 1900 War Poetry By looking at several war poems written before and after 1900, I can see that many elements of the types of poetry change greatly in several ways. I will be looking at a selection of war poems written by three different poets, in chronological order, so as to see if the attitudes to war and writing styles change over time or during various stages of the war. Firstly I will be looking at a poem written by Alfred Tennyson about the charge against the Russian gunners in 1854. The poem is called "The Charge of the Light Brigade" as it is exactly what happened. The information that Tennyson used to write the poem came from a newspaper article from the Times. Tennyson has used the information very well to give an accurate and informative, yet poetic description of the charge. Although Tennyson is writing from secondary information, he has still incorporated poetic and rhythmic effects to make the poem follow a rhythm similar to that of a galloping horse. 'Half a league, Half a league, Half a league onward', the distance of the charge is stated at the beginning of the poem as it starts straight into the charge. Although in the article written in the newspaper it states 'At a distance of 1,200 yards', Tennyson has edited it within similar distance whilst making the information poetic to read. By starting the charge at the beginning of the poem, Tennyson has instantly caught the reader's attention whilst still providing the relevant information for the poem to tell the story of what happened. Tennyson glorifies the soldiers greatly by using strong dramatic language and graphic images that can be vividly formed in the reader's minds. "All in the valley of Death, rode the six hundred." The dramatic language here makes it seem like just the unusually small amount of horsemen used in such a charge would be charging at hell itself. Tennyson continues to glorify the bravery of the soldiers throughout the whole poem, 'Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of death', yet the emphasis that he uses on death makes the charge seem futile and that the men are charging towards their own deaths. Verses 3 and 5 seem very similar when reading the poem, however in contrast the charge is towards the gunners in Verse 3 whereas it is the retreat in Verse 5. Yet Tennyson always keeps the repetition of 600 throughout the poem, even when they are retreating and many of them have already been killed he continues to refer to them as one group of six hundred that make up the Light Brigade.

Comparative Essay on Romantic Poetry - In London, September 1802 vs. :: English Literature

Comparative Essay on Romantic Poetry - In London, September 1802 vs. The World Is Too Much With Us Late and Soon - Wordsworth Wordsworth's poems initiated the Romantic era by emphasizing feeling, instinct, and pleasure above formality and mannerism. More than any poet before him, Wordsworth gave expression to unformed human emotion; his lyric "Strange fits of passion have I known," in which the speaker describes an inexplicable fantasy he once had that his lover was dead, could not have been written by any previous poet. The message that these poems sent across may be interpreted as being cynical and nostalgic towards the people, nation and the era in which the author lives. In The World is Too Much, the speaker angrily accuses the modern age of having lost its connection to nature and to everything meaningful: "Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: / Little we see in Nature that is ours; / We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!" He says that even when the sea "bares her bosom to the moon" and the winds howl, humanity is still out of tune, and looks on uncaringly at the spectacle of the storm. The speaker wishes that he were a pagan raised according to a different vision of the world, so that, "standing on this pleasant lea," he might see images of ancient gods rising from the waves, a sight that would please him greatly. He imagines "Proteus rising from the sea," and Triton "blowing his wreathed horn." This poem in a very clear manner shows the flaws of society and his views against such flaws. In London, September 1802 Wordsworth's views are not so clear. The use of such accusations "The Wealthiest Man among us is the best": /"For comfort, being, as I am, opprest". The foundation of this poem is not condemning all that is in his life but nature, rather he attempts to show the shortcomings of society in an effort to go back and reflect upon the lost ways of the past. This is supported with excerpts like "We must run glittering like a brook" and "No grandeur now in nature or a book" show the author's view that there is potential for society and that is has the ability to change. This is quite contrary to the pessimistic outlook of The World is Too Much. The structure of both these poems is that of an Italian sonnet much like many other famous sonnets Wordsworth wrote in the early 1800s. Sonnets are fourteen-line poetic inventions written in iambic pentameter. An Italian or Petrarchan sonnet is divided into two parts,

Character Analysis for Maus by Art Speigleman

Character List- round or flat Art Spiegelman- r * Art Spiegelman is the author and narrator of Maus, and also one of the story's main characters. * Born in Stockholm after the Holocaust, he is the only surviving child of Vladek and Anja Spiegelman. * He is married to Francoise, a French woman who converted to Judaism upon their engagement. * Maus centers around two primary narratives: Vladek's experiences as a Jew in World War II Poland, and Art's relationship with his aging father. * When the story opens, Art lives in New York and does not see his father very often, though he lives only a short distance away in Queens. But as Art begins to draw this story about Vladek's Holocaust experiences, he begins to visit his father more and more frequently. * Their relationship is strained, as Vladek's gruff demeanor and unwillingness to spend money routinely infuriate his son. * Art is filled with complex feelings towards his father ranging from admiration for his survival in Auschwitz, to f rustration towards his aggravating tendencies, and guilt for his own neglect of a father who has lived through so many difficult times. * Art also has complex emotions towards the Holocaust.Though he did not live through it personally, he feels that he is constantly affected by it. * His father's personality was largely formed from his experiences in Auschwitz, and this personality in turn directly affected the way in which Art was raised. Vladek Spiegelman- r * Vladek is Art Spiegelman's father. * He grew up in pre-war Poland, and much of Maus traces his experiences in the Holocaust, as told in his own words to his son. * As the story opens in 1978, he is married to his second wife, Mala. The couple does not get along * Vladek's personality is largely dominated by his Holocaust experiences. During the Holocaust, he exhibited a spectacular resourcefulness, work ethic, and presence of mind that often enabled him to secure food, shelter, and safety for himself and his family. * He was a shrewd businessman, and in the most troubling times he saved everything of use. In 1978, he still saves everything and tries to exchange those things that he no longer needs. * Once so resourceful and competent, he is still constantly working on small projects, some of which he is incapable of completing. Anja Spiegelman- r * Anja is Art's mother and Vladek's first wife.The couple meets in Poland while Vladek is in a long-term relationship with another woman, Lucia Greenberg. * Always an anxious woman, she suffers an acute depression shortly after the birth of her son and spends three months recovering in a sanitarium. * She survives the Holocaust with her husband, and they immigrate to the United States a few years after the war. * Anja commits suicide in 1968, leaving both Art and Vladek in emotional turmoil. * Art's last memory of his mother is recorded in a comic called â€Å"Prisoner on the Hell Planet,† in which she enters Art's room and asks him if he still loves he r.His response, a terse and dismissive â€Å"sure,† haunts him for years. Lolek- f * Vladek's nephew and Uncle Herman's son. * Lolek lives with Anja's family for much of the initial German occupation, first at Anja's father's house and then in the Srodula ghetto. * When the situation deteriorates and Vladek makes preparations to hide in a shelter until the Nazis have evacuated the town, * Lolek tells his uncle that he is tired of hiding, and he is soon transported to Auschwitz. He survives the camps and eventually becomes a college professor. Richieu Spiegelman- f Richieu is Vladek and Anja's first child, born in Poland in 1937. * In 1943, Vladek and Anja send him to live under the protection of Uncle Persis, where they think he will be safer. * Richieu travels with Anja's sister, Tosha; * But soon after, Zawiercie is liquidated by the Nazis. Rather than be taken to the gas chamber, Tosha poisons herself and the children under her care, including Richieu. * After his death, V ladek and Anja keep a photograph of their first child hanging on the wall of their bedroom. Mala Spiegelman- f * Mala is Vladek's second wife, and a friend of his family from before the war. The couple does not get along. * Mala is consumed with frustration towards Vladek's inability to part with money, while Vladek views his wife with considerable distrust and accuses her of trying to steal his money. Francoise- f * Art's wife. * She is French and converted to Judaism in preparation for their marriage to please Vladek. * She is intelligent, kind, and opinionated, and their relationship is strong. * She plays a relatively minor role in the story, serving mostly as a means for Art to discuss his relationship with his father and the Holocaust. Mr. Zylberberg- f Anja's father. * Before the war, he is a wealthy manufacturer who owns a factory. * When Vladek and Anja are married, he provides Vladek with a factory of his own. * He survives with his family in German-occupied Poland, until the family is captured and sent to await transport to Auschwitz. * By bribing his cousin, Haskel, Vladek is able to arrange for the release of himself and Anja. Orbach- f * A friend of Vladek's family in Poland. * When Vladek is a prisoner of war, Orbach claims him as a cousin, so that Vladek is released into his custody and eventually returns home to Sosnowiec.Vladek's father- f * Vladek's father is a tough and deeply religious man. * His wife dies of cancer before the worst of the Holocaust. * Before the war, Vladek's father intentionally starves his son so that he will be declared unfit for the army. * Later, the Nazi grip tightens, and all Jews are made to register in a nearby stadium. Those who are fit to work are sent to one side, while the elderly and women with many children are sent to their deaths at the concentration camps. By registering at a table manned by his cousin, Mordecai, Vladek's father is spared. Before he leaves the tadium, however, he sees his daughter, Fela (Vladek's sister) and her four small children standing with those destined for Auschwitz. He crosses over to be with her, and all die in the camps. Uncle Herman- f * Anja's brother. * Along with his wife, Hela, he is visiting the New York World's Fair when the war begins, and they remain in the United States to escape the horrors abroad. Tosha- f * Tosha is Anja's older sister. * At the beginning of the German occupation of Poland, she lives with Anja's family in her father's house, along with her husband, Wolfe, and their small daughter, Bibbi. As the situation deteriorates Uncle Persis offers to keep her safely in nearby Zawiercie ghetto, where he is a prominent member of the Jewish Council. * She agrees, and leaves with Wolfe, Bibbi, and Vladek's son Richieu. Soon, though, the Germans slaughter the Jewish Council and begin to evacuate the Jews of Zawiercie to the camps. Rather than be sent to the gas chambers, Tosha poisons herself, her daughter, Herman's daughter Lonia, and Vlad ek's son Richieu. Mr. Ilzecki- f * A former customer of Vladek's from before the war. The two meet again after the German occupation and begin conducting business on the Sosnowiec black market * Mr. Ilzecki has a son about the same age as Vladek's, and he offers to send Richieu along with his own son to a Polish friend to hide until things get better. Nahum Cohn- f * A friend and business partner of Vladek's during his black market days in Sosnowiec. * Nahum is arrested along with his son for selling goods without coupons. * The Nazis decide to make an example of them and they are hanged in a well-know black market center and left there for a full week. Anja's Grandparents- f During the initial period of the German occupation, they live in Anja's father's house with the rest of the family. * Later, they are told to relocate to a â€Å"community better prepared to take care of the elderly. † * The family hides them for over a month, until the authorities arrest Anja's father a nd threaten to arrest more of his family if the grandparents are not given over to the Germans. * Anja's grandparents are taken away to Auschwitz, where they are killed. Haskel Spiegelman- f * Haskel is Vladek's cousin, and chief of the Jewish Police in the Srodula ghetto. He is the brother of Miloch and Pesach. He is what Vladek calls a kombinacya, or â€Å"schemer. † * While he is a rather unsavory character, he is a good person to know in the ghetto. * When Vladek's family is discovered in the â€Å"chandelier† bunker and sent to a compound to wait for transport to Auschwitz, Haskel arranges for Vladek, Anja, and Lolek to be released in exchange for valuables. Miloch Spiegelman- f * Miloch is Vladek's cousin, and brother to Haskel and Pesach. * He is Vladek's supervisor at the shoe repair shop in the Srodula ghetto, and an honorable man compared to the scheming Haskel. When the Germans make plans to eliminate all Jews in the ghetto, he prepares a hidden shelter behi nd a pile of shoes at the shop, where Vladek, Anja, and 15 other people hide for days. Pesach Spiegelman- f * Pesach is Vladek's cousin, and brother to Miloch and Haskel. * Like Haskel, he is a schemer and a rather unsavory character. * His most significant involvement centers on a scheme to sell cake to the inhabitants of the ghetto. * He makes a fortune, but everyone who eats it becomes sick – the cake was accidentally made with laundry soap in addition to flour. Mr. Lukowski- f The janitor at Anja's father's house. * When Vladek and Anja escape from the Srodula ghetto, they knock on his door and he allows them to stay in a shed behind his house. Mrs. Kawka- f * Mrs. Kawka is the owner of a small farm on the outskirts of Sosnowiec, and for a price she allows Vladek and Anja to hide in her barn. * Mrs. Kawka is the person who tells Vladek about the smugglers who can take him to Hungary. Mrs. Motonowa- f * Vladek befriends Mrs. Motonowa at the Sosnowiec black market after the liquidation of Srodula, and she offers to hide him and Anja at her farm, with her seven-year-old son. She is a kind woman, and the house is comfortable, except for a ten-day period in which Mrs. Motonowa's husband returns home from Germany on vacation, and they are forced to stay in the basement. * After Vladek and Anja attempt to escape to Hungary, she shelters Miloch and his family for the remainder of the war. Mandelbaum- f * Before the war, Mandelbaum owned a pastry store in Sosnowiec where Vladek and Anja often shopped. Abraham- f * Abraham is Mandelbaum's cousin. * He agrees to accompany the smugglers, and promises to write Mandelbaum and Vladek if he arrives safely in Hungary. He is betrayed, however, and forced at gunpoint to write the letter anyway. The Karps- f * The Karps are Vladek's neighbors at his Catskills bungalow. * When Art visits his father there, they take him aside and tell him that Vladek cannot possibly take care of himself. Vladek's Kapo- f * A â€Å"kapoà ¢â‚¬  is a Polish supervisor at a concentration camp. * Soon after Vladek arrives at Auschwitz, Vladek's kapo asks the Jews in the barracks if anyone there can speak English. Pavel- f * Pavel is Art's psychiatrist. * Like Art's father, Pavel is a survivor of the Holocaust. Art sees him once a week, and the sessions always seem to make him feel better. Mancie- f * Mancie is a female Hungarian Jew at Birkenau with Anja, * has higher status as a result of an affair with S. S. guard. * She acts as a go-between for Vladek and his wife, carrying notes and food. The Frenchman- f * After Vladek is transferred from Auschwitz to Dachau, he befriends a Frenchman with whom he converses in English. * Because he is not Jewish, the Frenchman is able to receive packages of food through the Red Cross, which he shares with Vladek, probably saving his life. http://www. gradesaver. com/maus/study-guide/character-list/

Production †Establishing a Business Essay

This School Based Assessment is based on a business plan for Otaku Cafe. It is written with the intent to learn what it takes to start a business and to have something to use as a proposal to address potential investors and show the feasibility of the business. Business Description Otaku Cafe will be a cafe where people can come and read and write while enjoying sweet treats and coffee. It will be a sole trader business that sells sweets and beverages made right in the shop, fresh every day. The main objectives of this business will be to make 100% profit and to eventually open other branches all the while satisfying customers and bringing together people who have similar interests and reawakening people’s interest in books. Justification of Location The cafe’s location will be in Heritage Quay on the board walk. This is the chosen location because of the flow of customers who pass through due to the other businesses in the area and the tourists that come from the cruise ship. This location is in town but away from the traffic congestion; roads, water and electricity will also be easily accessible from the location. Also it is near the port, making it easier to get stocks from overseas. The lack of competitor cafes and the ready supply of possible labour from the surrounding area make this an optimum location. Selection of Appropriate Labour Skilled Employees Barista – At least 2 will be necessary. They will be responsible for the making of quality beverages, handling the customers Assistant baker – At least 3 will be needed. The assistant baker will be responsible for cleaning baking equipment and preparing and organising products in preparation for the baker Waiter / Waitress – At least 4 will be necessary. They will be responsible for taking customer orders and delivering them their meals and beverages in a timely manner, delivering the bill to customers and clearing dirty wares from the tables. Sources of fixed and working capital The business premises, vehicles such as vans that may be used for transport of the product and raw materials, computers that are used, machinery such as ovens, coffee machines, heated display cases, freezers, are fixed capital, all which will be essential to the business but can be used to gain funds through their sale though they most likely would not be sold as they would be vital to the running of the business. Working capital will be gained first through small business loans from a commercial bank and will later be created through the money made from the sales of the cafe’s goods as working capital is the variable types of capitol made throughout the course of the business that can be readily converted into monetary funds. Roles of the Entrepreneur Creating and setting the concept the business will be bases on Providing funding for the business Planning for the establishment of the business Organize resources for business operation Type of Production The business will be involved in the production of the service of providing food and goods to customers as well as an entertaining experience at the cafe. Level of Production Production in the business will be on a domestic level, only producing for the local market as it is a more plausible level of production and more fiscally sound. Quality Control Measures Quality control within the business will be maintained through the strict adherence to recipes set for products, the hiring of mostly skilled workers and regular quality checks so as to ensure output of only optimum products and services to the customers. Use of technology Technology used in the business Internet Point of Sales system Accounting software (QuickBooks) Linkages The business will be involved in linkages with wholesale suppliers or producers of coffee, tea and other such beverages as well as suppliers or producers of fruits or fruit jams such as local farmers, producers of flour, dairy products and other suck materials needed to produce the goods of the cafe, to create an economic flow locally and to increase possible output and profit. Potential for Growth Growth within the business will be expected and hopefully the business will have to eventually move to a larger location, purchase more equipment to keep up with product demand and if possible, maybe even open other branches across the island. Government Regulations As a business earning money it will be required to be registered and pay taxes such as corporate taxes which are 2% of profits, custom tariffs, licence for importations and applying for work permits for any non-national employees and fulfilling payments of Social Security and Medical Benefits for employees. Ethical Issues Ethical issues such as the prompt payment of taxes, the correct labelling and advertising of products and the sales of quality goods instead of substandard or shoddy goods are all ethical standards that will be upheld by the business.