Wednesday, May 27, 2020

The Role of Women in A Dolls House and Ghosts - Literature Essay Samples

The Role of Women in A Dolls House and GhostsThe role of women has changed significantly throughout history, driven in part by women who took risks in setting examples for others to follow. During the Victorian era, women were beginning to take a stand for their rights.ÂÂ ¹ Even as they struggled with their expected roles as women, a few that managed to escape the demands and expectations of society. Playwright Henrik Ibsen reinforces the idea of womens rights by creating two female characters that embody the struggle for freedom from their restricted roles. In Henrik Ibsens plays A Dolls House and Ghosts, both Nora and Mrs. Alving deviate from the roles expected of Victorian women.During the nineteenth century, women were expected to marry and remain faithful to their husbands regardless of their situations. There was an exaggerated emphasis upon duty, the injunction to stay with ones husband no matter what the circumstances (Hunt 111). However, Nora deviates from her expected role and duty as a wife by leaving Torvald at the end of A Dolls House. Her desires and her own happiness are more important to her than the duties to her husband, regardless of what people will say (Ibsen 64). Though Torvald reminds her that one of her most sacred duties is to him, Nora takes her bag and leaves him crying out her name as the sound of a door shutting is heard below (Ibsen 68).In Ghosts, Mrs. Alving also leaves her husband despite what is expected of her. It is Mrs. Alvings unhappiness that compels her to leave her husband during their first year of marriage; however, she returns to him after her priest and good friend Manders leads her back into the path of duty (Ibsen 89). Though it is clear that Mr. Alving was not faithful to his wife and drank excessively, Manders disregards his actions and goes on to lecture Mrs. Alving on her quest for happiness, similar to Torvalds reminder of Noras duties to him.What right have we to happiness? No! we must do our duty, Mrs. Alving. And your duty was to cleave to the man you had chosen and to whom you were bound by a sacred bond (Ibsen 89).Even thought it appears that their circumstances and social standings are the same, the key difference between the two women is that Nora is not religious and Mrs. Alving very much follows and obeys the rules set out by the church. Upon leaving her husband, Nora disobeys only the rules set out by society, whereas Mrs. Alving disobeys the more consequential rules set out by the church.ÂÂ ¹Along with being a wife during the nineteenth century comes the role as a mother. It was believed that womens God-given rolewas as wife and mother and that children were to be cherished and nurtured (Hartman 1). Abandoning her children was unacceptable behavior by a mother, and looked down upon by both men and women. By leaving Torvald, Nora also abandons her children by not taking them with her. Instead, she leaves them with Torvald under the care of the maids.In a less literal sense, Nora does not fulfill her role as a mother by instead giving the responsibility of the children to the maids. Rather than treating them as her children, she treats them as if they were dolls, playing with them when it is convenient to her. When the children wish for Nora to play with them, she dismisses them with the maid and begins decorating the Christmas tree.Similarly, Mrs. Alving forfeits the responsibility of her son Oswald when she sends him away to Paris for schooling. Manders once again lectures Mrs. Alving on what is expected of her by saying, you have forsaken your duty as a mother (Ibsen 90). It is apparent that she chooses not to fulfill her duty as a mother by putting Oswald in the care of strangers. Manders disapproval of her actions depicts what reactions society would have to such a defiance of duty during the nineteenth century.Even though both women choose to hand over the responsibility of their children to someone other than themselves, they go about it i n a very different fashion. Nora takes her responsibilities as a mother rather lightly by only calling upon her children when she is in the mood to play with them. Mrs. Alving, on the other hand, shelters her son from the happenings within the home and therefore chooses to send him far away so his childhood is not tarnished by the unhappiness within the home.As a wife and mother, a woman was to uphold the familys honour and appearanceÂÂ ¹, which often involved keeping secrets about what went on behind closed doors. In A Dolls House, the plot revolves around the loan Nora obtains in secrecy, and her attempt to hide the fact that her fathers signature on the bond is forged. Nora makes sure that Torvald remains unaware of the loan in order to uphold his honour as the household provider. However, Nora reveals the secret to her good friend Mrs. Linde in an attempt to prove her understanding of the burdens and troubles of life (Ibsen 11), thus diminishing her husbands honour by imply ing that he cannot support his family.When Torvald finds out about the loan and Noras forgery, he insists, the matter must be hushed up at any cost (Ibsen 60) and that it must appear as if everything between us were just as before (Ibsen 60).As a result of Noras secret, Torvalds honour is at stake should the secret get out and become public knowledge. Rather than upholding a good appearance, as she should, Nora leaves Torvald, diminishing the familys honour as well as Torvalds.In Ghosts, Mrs. Alving must keep to herself the fact that her husband impregnated the previous maid, whose child is now serving as her maid. Should the secret be exposed, her family name would be stripped of the honour it has attained. In order to keep up a good appearance, Mrs. Alving keeps the family secret from everyone, including her own son Oswald. Because of Manders remarks on her forsaken duties as a mother and wife, she exposes the secret to him in order to justify her previous actions. She then goes o n to tell her son and maid of the secret she kept all these years, exposing the truth once and for all. As a result, the honourable name Alving is stained with the act of infidelity and a child born outside of marriage.It was said during the nineteenth century that a woman cannot be herself in modern society (Meyer 254), leading to the role as the keeper of the household, the guardian of the moral purity of all who lived therein (Hartman 1). As the guardian, both women conceal secrets and ultimately both of their motives are to protect the familys honour. Noras secret is to protect her and her husbands social standing by ensuring that their financial problems are not revealed. Upon being confronted about revealing her secret, Nora leaves Torvald. Mrs. Alvings secret, however, is to protect her and her husbands honour and ultimately her childs. Throughout their marriage, she never reveals this secret and does not divulge it to anybody until after the death of her husband.In Henrik Ib sens plays A Dolls House and Ghosts, both female characters, Nora and Mrs. Alving, deviate from the roles of Victorian women. Both women are very unhappy and willing to disobey societys expectations and rules, and therefore suffer the consequences of their actions. Their circumstances are similar, yet the difference between them is that one permanently leaves, while the other only briefly takes a stand, but returns nonetheless. In both plays, Ibsen clearly shows that women in the Victorian era were solely responsible for the image of their family and husbands, and at all times had to sacrifice their own wants and needs to meet societys definition of a successful marriage and household. The revelation of these characters reinforces womens rights during this time period, setting examples for women everywhere to follow and changing the role of women in years to come.Works CitedÂÂ ¹Hartman, Dorothy. Womens Roles in the Late 19th Century. 16 May 2005 Hunt, James. Caitlines Dream: an essay on Ibsens plays. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press, 1986.Ibsen, Henrik. Four Great Plays. New York: Bantam Books, 1959.Meyer, Michael. Henrik Ibsen: The Farewell to Poetry 1864-1882. London:Brill Academic Publishers, 1980.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Themes and Images in The Awakening - 1462 Words

The water of the Gulf stretched out before her, gleaming with the million lights of the sun. The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in the abysses of solitude. All along the white beach, up and down, there was no living thing in sight. A bird with a broken wing was beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water. Chapter XXXIX nbsp; Edna Pontellier, a woman no longer certain of who she is. A woman no longer sure of her position in life, of who she is supposed to be. Edna Pontellier is a woman trapped in the bounds of her society, her culture, her time. She is confined in a box that possesses no boundaries. The†¦show more content†¦Details from this novel by Kate Chopin demonstrate how this quote aptly captures the theme and spirit of The Awakening, as well as the situation of women in the nineteenth century and even today. First, one most look to the white beach, Edna has trod on her entire life. This beach is the safe and sturdy ground that Adele Ratignolle thrives upon. Attired all in white, Madame Ratignolle embodies the very spirit of the mother - woman. They were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels. Ch. IV, pg 385. However, on this white beach, where women i n white brood over all, . . .Edna was not a mother - woman. Ch. IV, pg 385. Rather than dig her toes into the colorless sands, Edna prefers meandering walks, perhaps on the shoreline itself. The imagery of Edna walking along as the waters lap at her feet is profound. nbsp; Edna is thus far trapped on the ground, not yet knowing how to swim, but wanting desperately to swim into the boundless water. Therefore, she must be content with life on land, experiencing only a portion of the fluid as it swirls around her ankles. So Edna marries a man her father approves of, has children her husband approves of, and mimes a life society approves of. Here and there, the water of living laps at Ednas feet tempting her to jump in.Show MoreRelatedThe Awakening And Henrik Ibsen s A Doll s House1288 Words   |  6 PagesKate Chopin’s feminist novella The Awakening and Henrik Ibsen’s iconic play A Doll’s House both follow strong female protagonists who deal with abusive relationships, difficult situations, and self-realization. A main theme seen in both works is that of self-awareness and the journey to find one’s self while they deal with conflicting relationships between themselves and other characters. Although Robert M. Adams’ identification of personality clashes is evident in both works, his interpretationRead More Comparing the Use of Images in The Other Wife and The Story of an Hour1165 Words   |  5 PagesComparing the Use of Images in The Other Wife and The Story of an Hour The Other Wife and The Story of an Hour are two short stories both seemingly similar and contrasting in different ways. In Chopin’s story we see that Louise Mallard reveals her ironically natural feeling of joy and freedom following the news of her husband’s death. Louise’s sensation of freedom is conveyed through the use of vivid natural images and color. While in Colette’s story the two female protagonists contrastinglyRead MoreThe Awakening Ednas Suicide1304 Words   |  6 Pages Edna’s Victorious Suicide In the iconic debated novel â€Å"The Awakening†, Kate Chopin’s novel takes place in the Victorian Era, which is in the 19th- century, similarly the novel was published in 1899. 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The Awakening by Kate Chopin was written at the end of the nineteenth century in a time whereRead MoreEdna Pontellier Rejects Her Woman/Mother Image in The Awakening1069 Words   |  5 Pages A bird view of the historical context of The Awakening gives me ample evidence to reinstate the thesis statement: Edna Pontellelier does not reject her children; she neglects only her women/mother image. The novel The Awakening was written at the end of the nineteenth century which was fundamentally characterized by change. A wide spectrum of disciplines and structures were facing created tensions between old and new. It was the time of industrialization, urbanization which contributedRead More Symbolism in Kate Chopins The Awakening Essay1467 Words   |  6 PagesSymbolism in Kate Chopins The Awakening Chopins The Awakening is full of symbolism.   Rather than hit the reader on the head with blunt literalism, Chopin uses symbols to relay subtle ideas.   Within each narrative segment, Chopin provides a symbol that the reader must fully understand in order to appreciate the novel as a whole.   I will attempt to dissect some of the major symbols and give possible explanations as to their importance within the text.   Art itself is a symbol of both freedomRead More Comparing Awakenings in Chopins The Storm and The Story of an Hour1260 Words   |  6 PagesComparing Awakenings in Chopins The Storm and The Story of an Hour As a forerunner of the modern feminist movement, Kate Chopin explored bold new characterizations of her female subjects. Chopin is famous for her progressive depiction of the female characters in her stories. Two such stories, The Storm and The Story of an Hour, examine and refute the long held ideal of the subservient wife. The Storm, written in 1898 but not published until later because of its provocative contentRead MoreEssay on symbolaw Use of Symbols and Symbolism in The Awakening1292 Words   |  6 PagesUse of Symbolism in Chopins The Awakening The Awakening is a novel full of symbolism; within each narrative segment there is often a central and powerful symbol that serves to add meaning to the text and to underline some subtle point Chopin is making. Understanding the meaning of these symbols is vital to a full appreciation of the story. This essay lists some of the major symbols with explanations of their importance. Art becomes a symbol of both freedom and failure. It is through theRead MoreThe Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood By John Everett Millais996 Words   |  4 Pagesa message of artistic renewal and moral reform by imbuing their art with seriousness, sincerity, and truth to nature.†(Meagher) From Millais I will focus on one of his more famous paintings Ophelia, followed by Rossetti’s Proserpine, and Hunt’s Awakening Conscience. John Everett Millais’ Ophelia painted in 1851 is a depiction of noble woman Ophelia from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Ophelia’s story is tragic as she loses the favour of price Hamlet who then goes on to kill Ophelia’s father. Ophelia is drivenRead MoreEssay about Kate Chopins Awakening is Not a Tragedy1321 Words   |  6 PagesKate Chopins Awakening is Not a Tragedy      Ã‚  Ã‚   When we think of a tragedy, thoughts of lost love and torments abound. The most human of emotions, sorrow, overwhelms us. We agonize over the tragedy, and the tragic figure. We lose sight of reality, enthralled by the suspense, captured by the Irony that, we know what plight lies ahead for the characters. We feel the suffering and the helplessness of the characters as the tragedy unwinds. Although Kate Chopins The Awakening

Saturday, May 16, 2020

The Colonists Actions And British Government s Responses

3. The Colonists Actions and British Government’s Responses 1760s-1770s The imposition of taxes on the American Colonies by the British Government in the 1760s set in motion a series of action and reaction that led to a break between the components of the British Empire. Americans responded with much anger and public resistance to the Stamp Act in 1763. Much of this resistance was expressed in the colonies of Massachusetts and Virginia. In Massachusetts, the mobs not only threatened violence, but damaged and at times destroyed the property of officials who were involved in the Stamp Act’s implementation. Virginia on the other hand took legislative action denouncing the imposition of taxes on the Colonies by Parliament. It was Virginia’s example that was followed nine of her sister colonies when their legislatures made similar resolutions. These actions also lled to the formation of the Stamp Act Congress in October 1765 (Middlekauff, 2005). This Stamp Act Congres s sent an appeal to Parliament and the King requesting the repeal of the Stamp Act with the justification that the costs associated with the act would prevent the colonies from purchasing British goods (Brown Carp, 2014). Conflict over the Stamp Act caused great discord in Parliament over how to deal with the colonies. It also caused British merchants to appeal to Parliament because of their lost revenue from colonial boycotts. The efforts to effect a repeal of the Stamp Act was aided by the dismissal ofShow MoreRelatedThe Basic Nature Of The Colonists By Britain s New Policies After The Seven Years War906 Words   |  4 PagesAnh Vo, Class section. Ex: S02/S23/S26 Title: Assessment Spring, 2016 Describe the basic nature of the colonists’ reactions to Britain’s new policies after the Seven Years’ War. Were the colonists demonstrating social responsibility? How or how not? Did social responsibility tie to their ideas of politics and protest? How or how not? Did their actions set a precedent for protest in the United States? Defend your answer. The victory in the Seven Years War leftRead MoreOppression Is The Foundation Of Revolution1243 Words   |  5 Pagesoppressed. In the eyes of the colonists, the British oppressed the colonists. In the late Eighteenth Century, increased taxation and restrictions imposed by the British were intolerable actions. Many colonists saw these actions as unjust and oppressive. Increased political restrictions and economic exploitations resulted in increased revolutionary fervor. The oppression of the colonists during Britain’s seemingly tyrannical reign led to the American Revolution. Colonists were outraged by Britain’s disregardRead MoreThe Action Of The Colonist917 Words   |  4 Pages1. The appropriate action of the colonist in response to the taxation imposed by the British Crown. Take a moment if you will and think what it would be like if you and all your friend spoke with British accents and instead of your morning coffee you read the paper over the morning tea. Both are two small differences that would be about if the colonist had not responded in the manner they did in their response to the taxation imposed by the British Crown. We will never truly know how the coloniesRead MoreSimilarities Between The French And Indian War1639 Words   |  7 Pagesthe citizens of the British-American colonies began to perform formal acts of revolt with the rejection of the Massachusetts government act. After that point, there were many revolutionary actions towards the mother country, be it protests, boycotts, the Boston Tea Party, or other similar behaviors. The aforementioned examples of early revolutionary feats were certainly pivotal towards the revolutionary effort. However, they were not quite entirely caused by the British colonists. Most of the activitiesRead Mo reThe Flag Of The Confederacy853 Words   |  4 Pages On July 4th, Americans remember and celebrate the Declaration of Independence. The nation pauses to commemorate the actions of the Founding Fathers, who led the way in the effort—now known as the American Revolution— to break apart from Britain. The American flag flies proudly across the land, its red, white and blue, its stars and its stripes, serving as a symbol of American pride. The flag of the Confederacy, however, is often met with scorn, revulsion, and censorship, as many Americans see itRead MoreChapter Five Of Give Me Liberty ! By Eric Foner1283 Words   |  6 Pagesauthor poses is â€Å"What key events sharpened the divisions between Britain and the colonists in the late 1760s and early 1770s?† (Foner 174). This question is important because it allows one to gain a better understanding of why the colonists will take the actions they do and why some of the events in the 1770s occur. Although there were many reasons that caused the divide between Britain and the North American colonists to further and become even more apparent in the late 1760s and early1770s, thereRead MoreJustification of the American Revolution1339 Words   |  6 Pagesgain independence from Britain in the mid 1700’s. The American colonists began questioning Britain’s authority as early as the French and Indian War. During the French Indian War, the colonies wanted to defend themselves against the French in North America. They asked King George for permission to raise armies in order defend themselves. Although their reason to raise an army was sincere, George II was suspicious of the intentions of the colonial government and disapproved their petition. After theRead MoreEngland Was The Most Powerful Country For A Very Long Time.1524 Words   |  7 PagesFrance, with whom British had conflicts and caused the Seven Years War and the American Revolution. The colonist were mis treated and taken advantage by the British by being taxed unfairly. The first resistance toward the British was in March 22, 1765, after the parliament passed the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act is a tax made to raise profit for the British army in America. The tax helped pay for the cost of defending and protecting the American borderline. All American colonists were required toRead MoreThe British And Indian War1387 Words   |  6 PagesDuring the mid-1700’s, British American Colonists were questioning their place under the British crown. The Colonists were proud to be part of the British Empire, especially after the recent victories of the French and Indian war, which gave the colonist a sense of pride and patriotism. However, British Parliament began to pass legislation that had laid a burden on the Colonists, as well as oppression. The Colonists began to question the power of the Crown, whether the idea of a Monarchy was a primitiveRead MoreThe Revolution Of The United States Of America1714 Words   |  7 Pagesalways be ready to defend his country against his government† (Abbey). During the 18th century, this is precisely how the United States of America transformed from a group of colonies that served their mother country of England to a completely independent nation founded on the basic principles of democracy. What led to this great transformation and how were these colonists able to break away from English rule? The answer is simple. The colonists sought the basic rights to life, liberty and the

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Effects Of Smoking On The Us, Britain And Russia

Smoking is a major cause of several deadly diseases and deaths worldwide. It is also the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Smoking is now considered deplorable due to the increasing understanding of its detrimental effects to our health especially in western countries (CDC, 2014). This essay will address the change in attitudes towards smokers in the US, Britain and Russia. In the past, Smoking played an integral role in our social lives. Smokers were highly respected; one could even say that they had more rights than the non-smoker. However, according to recent Gallup poll, such reverence is gradually slipping away (Saad, 2011). Furthermore, in the last half century, the war on smoking has been redirected to smokers. The meaning of the cigarette and the smoker has been transformed; ‘‘an emblem of attraction has become repulsive†¦the smoker has become a pariah†¦the object of scorn and hostility’’ (Brandt, 2007). Notwithstanding the release of the first Surgeon-General’s Report on smoking and health in 1964 that linked smoking to the cause of several diseases such as cancer, smoking persistently infiltrated our society but It was not until the effects extended towards the non-smoker that smoking was verified to be a health risk. Consequently, the anti-smoking campaign began in the United States and the passing of legislation and policies concerning smoking became relatively easy. In the U.S, smoking has become increasingly socially unacceptable and thisShow MoreRelatedThe Major Events Of The 20Th Century Were Characterized1612 Words   |  7 Pagesmasses in Russia were awakened to the prevailing political realities and eventually culminated in the overthrow of Czardom in March 1917 as a result of spontaneous action of the masses. The Rise of Dictatorship The rise of dictatorship began to spread around the world in the 1920s and 30s during and after the World War II when countries began to economic and political challenges that lead to the spread of the editorship ideologies in several parts of Eastern Europe including Germany, Russia, ItalyRead MoreThe Origins of Tobacco1898 Words   |  8 Pagesthe Caribbean. The N.Tabacum plant is no longer grown in the wild because it has been so long cultivated. Tobacco originated in Virginia but is now mainly grown in Russia, India and Turkey. The usage of Tobacco is actively practised by approximately 1.1 billion people and up to one third of the adult population. Statistics of smoking show that the use of tobacco has either levelled off or declined in developed countries but still continues to increase in developing countries. After the mid-twentiethRead More Nuclear Strikes Essay2452 Words   |  10 PagesVietnam) and a nuclear war was almost waged (Cuban Missile Crisis). Now with the breakup of the Soviet Union into a loose Commonwealth no one is exactly sure who has all the weapons. Certain nations inherited them, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Russia, while others tried stealing them, Iran, Libya, and North Korea. And since the breakup certain people have been caught stealing the materials needed to make a bomb. These terrorists have never been caught in the United States but numerous times inRead MoreUnderground Economy4900 Words   |  20 Pagesregulating standards in the black economy. ââ€" ª Criminal activity. ââ€" ª Loss of Tax Revenue ââ€" ª Inequality. Firms benefit from avoiding paying tax. Size of the Black Economy: o UK 10,6% of GDP o US 8% of GDP o Italy 30% o Russia 40-50% o Sub Saharan Africa 50-60% o China 20% o Japan, 6% There are various methods for estimating underground economy. The optimum method for a country depends on the features of its economyRead More The Fall of Socialism Essay3197 Words   |  13 Pagesand so forth ? are vilified as a socialist, and therefore communist, evil. For years, the system was far different. Starting early in the Industrial Revolution, and climaxing in the Great Depression, the labor movement made a sustained effort to effect economic change in the United States ? putting in place such systems as Welfare and Social Security, while ending child labor and organizing unions to campaign for a 40 hour workweek and minimum wage. Even a brief glance at America before World WarRead MoreUs Wars Essay4423 Words   |  18 Pagesflag: support goes up 5.6% international and dramatic increase to 90% after 9/11 (Obama after Osama bin Laden was captured) * limit: doesn’t last over time; public doesn’t like casualties * exceptions: criticism would lower rally round flag effect * not willing to fight long wars U.S. supports foreign policy decisions when it is restraining a nation rather than regime change, mainly because we are casualty averse. Public opinion can be an excuse not to enact a certain policy - bargainingRead More Second World War Essay2954 Words   |  12 PagesSecond World War My generation has already witnessed a day of infamy, less than two short years ago (or so CNN tells us). My grandfather would remember a different day, a morning marked by another surprise attack on America. That ambush, said Japanese General Yamamoto, awakened a â€Å"sleeping giant.† Analysis of American foreign policy begs the question: what if the giant had spurned its peaceful slumber? Instead, the behemoth could have chosen to lumber about. Odds are that the footsteps would notRead MoreChina s Economic And Technological Development4835 Words   |  20 Pagesthe Chinese society and the government departments are grappling with the increasing use of drug addiction, trafficking and consumption. With more porous borders, increased disposable income and increased economic freedoms, drug addiction and its effects have threatened to leave a permanent mark on the Chinese society. According to Zhang (2012), drug consumption has rapidly grown in the past few years. The officially registered number of addicts increased from 70,000 recorded in 1991 to slightlyRead More Fishing Essay2535 Words   |  11 PagesScandinavian Maglemosian culture used stone-pointed fishing spears, antler and bone harpoons and fishhooks, and lines and nets woven of bark fiber. Improved equipment increased the size of catches, and preservation techniques were developed for drying, smoking, salting, and pickling fish. As larger boats were built, fishing craft adventured farther into the oceans, and sea fishing developed into a well- defined business, with settlements whose main occupation was catching fish. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;EarlyRead MoreEssay on Bertrand Russell5284 Words   |  22 Pagespersonal liberty very highly, and for this reason he was extremely critical of the Russian communist system that came into place during the first part of the 20th century, even though when it first began he had high hopes for it. However, when he visited Russia in the 1910s, he was appalled by the lack of interest in the plight of the average Russian citizen, and he was turned off strongly by the elitist and illogical views of the Russian leaders, such as Lenin, whom he met and talked with. However, he was

Analysis Of The Poem The By Tony Barnstone - 1718 Words

Audit is a poem written by editor, translator, fiction writer, and poet Tony Barnstone. He has written a collection of varied and unique poems, from topics of the Second World War to a poetry book based on material in classic pulp fiction and B-movies. Barnstone has won numerous awards and literary competitions for his diverse work, including the Pushcart Prize in Poetry and the John Ciardi Prize in Poetry. This poem offers an interesting take on relationships and love and its relation to the world of business. The poem utilizes a variety of poetic devices, some being obvious and others more obscure, which will be explored throughout this paper. The poem Audit is about a married couple that has suffered at the hands of time. After however many years, the pair have fallen apart. The two were at one point both very much in love, and although the man still loves his wife or at the very least feels affection towards her, she no longer feels that their relationship is profitable or enjoyable. The only hope to save the relationship is for the man to change his disagreeable behavior. The major themes of this poem are love – but not in the ‘love conquers all’ view that is often present in poems, plays, and novels, quite the opposite. In fact, if anything, love can be compared to a business in this context. In addition, this poem contains a bounty of literary devices and poetic forms that contribute to the themes and purpose of the poem. The first subject within the poem that

Everglade dilemma Essay Example For Students

Everglade dilemma Essay Everglade DilemmaThe worlds systems of life are of such complexity that even modern man cant fully understand and predict it. The common word for this is Mother Nature and the question is the mystery of life. Life was created by a specific set of environmental and geologic features present at the same time. Modern life is still effected by the different environmental factors and systems that occur worldwide. Each system reaction causes and equal and opposite reaction in an another system. This cause and effect is demonstrated by many of the earths environmental systems. Deep in the heart of Florida lies a natural resource known as the everglades. This particular system is extremely complex and one that follows the action-reaction principle. Both the correct environmental features, as well as the right rock layers and substrates created the everglades. Geology and the environment created a system that has been nearly destroyed by man. Now he is trying to return the glades to life with a complicated set of levees and canals. In order to restore the everglades to life, one must understand them. How was this hive of life created, what happened to it, and what is currently happening to it? What processes can be invoked to help clean the water, remove pollutants, and restore water flowage. The underground aquifer is tapped by every city in Florida. This partially drains some of the water that would otherwise flow in to the everglades. Other unavoidable are the highways that run through the glades and long-stretching canals such as the Miami, which diverts and drains much water.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Financial Statement Analysis Of Unilever - Free Sample

Question: Descirbe about the Financial Statement Analysis of Unilever? Answer: Executive Summary According to the overall analysis of the project is based on the management accounting techniques and profitability status of the company Unilever. The entire project report is showing the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the business activities of the company in the different countries all around the world. The business strategies and objectives give impact on the financial status of the company to growth within a certain period of time. Introduction This particular study has emphasized on explaining how management accounting can supply information to assist the management of the organisation. In order to conduct this study, Unilever has been considered as the case organization. The overall study has been subdivided into several sub sections. The first part of this project is all about understanding the accounting techniques available for business organization and also the SWOT analysis of the company Unilever. The overall operational activities of the company in terms of both the financial and Non-financial criteria also have been explained here. Background of the organization The company Unilever established in the year 1933. Now the company is operating in 190 different countries in all around the world. The company is primarily supplies the large number of variety products which is utilized by the different ages group of customer segment of the company in all around the world (Unilever.com, 2015).The actual turnover of the company at the end of the financial year 2013-2014 is 48.4 billion which is showing that company 57% growth in their products and services market in all around the world. The company uses some new utility plans which is mainly support in reducing the wastage impact of the company by 15%. Unilever is the one of the best FMCG Company which preferred by the billions of customers in all around the world. Management accounting techniques There are various tools and techniques which are used by the company during the calculation of the management accounting of organization Unilever. There are several accounting calculation techniques which are used by the company during the calculation of the financial statement analysis of the company Unilever (Bhimani, 2012). The ratio analysis, capital budgeting and the portfolio analysis are the main tools which is easily measured the financial status of the organization Unilever limited. Management accounting of the company is generally evaluation to fix the long term goal of the company Unilever. The primary function of the management accounting which is based on the planning, control, cost accounting, decision making and auditing process of the company. There are different tools and techniques which are describe the cost volume profit and capital investment. Useful capital budgeting techniques: While, ratio analysis has been considered as the major tool to analyze the performance of the company over the time frame, capital budgeting techniques entirely revolves around investment opportunity assessment. There are several capital budgeting techniques that organization can employ. All these capital budgeting techniques mainly classified under two broad heads: discounting techniques and non discounting techniques. Under discounting techniques, there are several approaches exists like payback period, profitability index, etc. Similarly, net present value, internal rate of return, modified internal rate of return etc are the major discounting techniques organizations employed for investment decision. Payback period: According to this method, the investment option will selected on the basis of recovery period of the initial expenditure made by the organization. Following is the formula for payback period: Payback period: Initial investment for the project / net annual cash flow This formula will be applied in case of identical cash inflow over the time frame. If the cash inflow remains uneven over the time frame, following formula will be applied: Payback period = A + (B/C) Where, A = corresponding year of the last negative cumulative cash inflow B = Absolute value of the last negative cumulative cash inflow And C = Cash inflow of the subsequent year of the last negative cumulative cash inflow. Taken for example, let us consider, the organization Unilever has the following investment opportunity: Initial investment required: $10000000 Cash inflow: Year 1: $5000000 Year 2: $4000000 Year 3: $2000000 Year 4: $2000000 Year 5: $1000000 Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Initial Investment $ 100,00,000.00 Cash Inflow $ 50,00,000.00 $ 40,00,000.00 $ 20,00,000.00 $ 20,00,000.00 $ 10,00,000.00 Cumulative Cash Inflow $ -50,00,000.00 $ -10,00,000.00 $ 10,00,000.00 $ 30,00,000.00 $ 40,00,000.00 Payback Period 2.5 Years Net Present value: When, payback period is used widely because of easy access, net present value, which is a discounting technique, also utilized by the firm broadly. The formula for net present value is as mentioned below: NPV = C1 / (1+R) + C2 / (1+R)2 + C3 / (1+R)3 + C4 / (1+R)4 + C5 / (1+R)5- C0 C0 = initial investment C1= 1st year inflow C2 = 2nd year inflow C3 = 3rd year inflow C4 = 4th year inflow C5 = 5th year inflow R = Discount Rate If the above investment opportunity is considered here and if the required rate of return for Unilever is 12%, then the npv of this project will be calculated as below: Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Initial Investment $ 100,00,000.00 Cash Inflow $ 50,00,000.00 $ 40,00,000.00 $ 20,00,000.00 $ 20,00,000.00 $ 10,00,000.00 Cumulative Cash Inflow $ -50,00,000.00 $ -10,00,000.00 $ 10,00,000.00 $ 30,00,000.00 $ 40,00,000.00 Payback Period 2.5 Years Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Initial Investment $ 100,00,000.00 Cash Inflow $ 50,00,000.00 $ 40,00,000.00 $ 20,00,000.00 $ 20,00,000.00 $ 10,00,000.00 Discounting rate 12% 0.892857143 0.797193878 0.711780248 0.635518078 0.567426856 Present value $ 44,64,285.71 $ 31,88,775.51 $ 14,23,560.50 $ 12,71,036.16 $ 5,67,426.86 Total Present value $ 109,15,084.73 Net Present Value $ 9,15,084.73 Ratio Analysis The ratio analysis of the company Unilever is commonly based on the financial statements of the company within the given period of time. The financial statement analysis of the company which is analyzes the overall techniques of the financial status analysis of the company which is based on the ratio analysis techniques of the company Unilever (Drury, 2012). 6.1 Profitability ratio Profitability ratio of the company is based on the analysis of the capabilities of the organization in terms of measuring the earning capacities of the company. The overall profitability ratio calculation of the company is decided by the financial statement for period 2013 and 2014. Particulars Unilever 2013 2014 TOTAL REVENUE 25,810.21 28,019.13 GROSS PROFIT 4,957.88 5,028.39 GROSS PROFIT MARGIN 0.192089875 0.179462746 The gross profit margin of the company is based on the earning capabilities of the organization in terms of their operational activities.According to the analysis the gross profit margin of the Unilever 0.192 and 0.179 in the financial year 2013 and 2014. According to the gross profit margin of the company financial period 2013 is more profitable year for the Unilever. Particulars Unilever 2013 2014 TOTAL REVENUE 25,810.21 28,019.13 NET PROFIT 3,796.67 3,867.49 NET PROFIT MARGIN 0.147099539 0.138030339 The net profit margin of the company is generally related to the earning capabilities of the organization in terms of their operational activities. According to the analysis the gross profit margin of the Unilever 0.147 and 0.139 in the financial year 2013 and 2014. According to the gross profit margin of the company financial period 2013 is more profitable year for the unilever(Edwards and Boyns, 2012). Particulars Unilever 2013 2014 NET PROFIT 3,796.67 3,867.49 TOTAL ASSET 11,512.47 12,998.40 RETURN ON ASSETS 0.309794797 0.595071701 The returns from assets of the company is dependent on the earning capabilities of the organization in terms of revenue generation activities of their financial statements. According to the analysis the asset returns of the Unilever 0.309 and 0.595 in the financial year 2013 and 2014. According to the returns from assets acquired by the company financial period 2014 is more profitable year for the company unilever than 2014. Liquidity ratio Liquidity ratios of any organization which is generally support the liquidity position of the company Unilever which is measuring the financial situations of the company by which is easily pay the short-term financial obligation of the company(Follett, 2012). Particulars Unilever 2013 2014 current assets 11,512.47 12,998.40 current liabilities 5,167.69 5,793.89 current ratio 2.227778756 2.243466825 The current ratio of the company unilever is showing the financial position of the company which is making understand that the company is able to pay the short obligation of the company within financial period 2013 and 2014. The current ratio of the company is 2.22 and 2.24 in the financial period of time. Thecurrent ratio of the unilever company is more profitable in the financial year 2014. Particulars Unilever 2013 2014 current assets 11,512.47 12,998.40 current liabilities 5,167.69 5,793.89 INVENTORY 2,526.99 2,747.53 quick ratio 1.738780771 1.769255198 The quick ratio of the company unilever is showing the financial position of the company which is making understand that the company is able to pay the short obligation of the company within financial period 2013 and 2014. The current ratio of the company is 1.738 and 1.769 in the financial period of time. The current ratio of the unilever company is more profitable in the financial year 2014. SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis of the company Unilever is based on the analysis of the all the strength, weaknesses, opportunity and the threats of the company in the market.The company is also operating their product distribution activities in more than 190 countries(Garrison and Brewer, 2012). The company is providing the large range of the products for different range of clients and customers. The company also getting product manufacturing services is from 270 manufacturing sites in all around the world and also having more than 25 international brands which is generating 70% revenue from the overall selling activities of the organization. Strength The strength of the Unilever Company is mainly following in nature: The company is also operating their product distribution activities in more than 190 countries. The company is providing the large range of the products for different range of clients and customers. The company also getting product manufacturing services is from 270 manufacturing sites in all around the world and also having more than 25 international brands which is generating 70% revenue from the overall selling activities of the organization. The company is having huge products range for the different segment of customers which is mainly defining the huge revenue generation activities of the organization. The strong research and development authorities of the organization is based on the price and quality of the products which provided by the company in the all around the world market. The company is having more than 400 international brands which are selling in the market in different size and varieties as per the customers taste and preferences. The promotional activity of the company and the advance technologies which is going to use by the unilever is providing the competitive advantages to the company unilever. Weaknesses There are several weaknesses which is related to the unilever brands during the selling and distribution activities of their products in the market(Horngren and Oliver, 2012). Those weaknesses are following in nature: The company is having very strong product manufacturing competitors in the market those are like PG and Nestle which is preferable by the millions of customers in all around the world. The products which are produced by the company are also manufactured by the other company in the market in reasonable price and better quality in the local consumer market which is lower in compare to the company Unilever. Opportunity There are various opportunities which are awaited for the Unilever in the market as per the several conditions which are based on the demand of the products and the changes in the taste and preferences of the customers in the market. The following opportunity is waiting in the future of the organization. The company highly famous in the health conscious products which is generallybetter in compare to the other products of different brand. The company is mainly famous for the changing the life styles and trends of the consumers which is related to the several activities of the organization.The company is changing the trend of the project which is enhancing the demand of the project in the market. The huge demand in the organization which is based on the demand the production capacities of the company will increase significantly. Threats Thethreats of the company Unilever are generally survive on the performance of the company in the current scenario of the products demands in the market(Drury, 2012). There are some threats which are measures by the company during their management and operational activities of the company and those threats are following in nature: The economic inflation and reception mainly give negative impact on the business activity of the company Unilever which will decrease the profitability of the company within the given financial period of time. The customer are more conscious about the products they buy from the market so the company mainly focusing on the making the eco-friendly products in the environment. The global market competition need to match by the company with their competitors which is depends upon the innovative products features which are prefer by the customer of the company. The legal rules and regulations which arebased on the government taxation policies and the different procedure of the company. Conclusion According to the overall analysis of the company unilever it is shown that the company is huge expanded in the global market for their products range provided in the market as per the taste and preferences of the different segments of customers in the all around the world.The financial status of the company is mainly measure by the ratio analysis of the company which is generally based on the financial statement analysis of the company Unilever. 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