Commentary on the eco friendly shoes Essay Example for Free

Commentary on the eco friendly shoes Essay Blackspot Sneaker and Nike considered. The best way to have the biggest share of the market is not really by advertisements or sweet talks; it can only be done by the use of economic friendly products. The product that every Tom, Dick and Harry would be able to afford without going for a loan. Commenting on the economic friendly shoes of Blackspot and Nike, apart from producing a user friendly shoes, they also put other factors into consideration and it is in view of this that made them dominate the shoe industry. Why will a buyer purchase a pair of shoe for the same price he/she can purchase 3 pairs? Since those two companies put the end users into thought by producing shoes that would be durable, cheap and firm, they have been able to control the target market and every advertisement rolled out to the audience is accepted as a contract or agreement to purchase a pair or more of the advertised shoes and this has really increased their sales not for a particular manufactured shoes but all shoes on which Kalle Lasn or Nike is written on.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In an excerpts from Blackspot website,   Kalle Lasn, CEO, Blackspot, said â€Å"all shoes manufactured by Blackspot are earth friendly, anti sweatshop, cruelty free and prograssroots   and he ended it by saying that Blackspots are the only rough and ready shoes that has the ability to beat NIKE†. When a shoe company comes out with a good product, and at the same time a relatively cheap product, it is very certain that the demand will be higher than the supply because everybody will like to be seen with the product on his feet. As this increases, the shoe company will continue to make name and refrain other competitors from coming to the market scene.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Conclusively, it could be seen that the society has really impacted in the advertisement and sales of eco friendly shoe producers because without the society there would be no turnover.

Luxury Consumption Essay -- Business, Online Private Shopping Clubs

This is a literature review of online private shopping clubs a subcategory of luxury consumption. In this review, I will provide a brief orientation of luxury consumption and give further information about the latest consumer trend online private shopping clubs. The trend will be described in great detail and analysed. The term â€Å"luxury† is routinely used in our everyday life to refer to products, services or a certain lifestyle, often without a clear understanding of the luxury concept as it takes on many forms for different people and is dependent on the experience and mood of the consumer (Wiedmann et al, 2009). However, according to Danziger (2005), luxury may be defined as something inessential, but conducive to pleasure and comfort. It is derived from the Latin word â€Å"luxuria†, meaning â€Å"excess† or the â€Å"extras of life† (Danziger 2005). With this view in mind, luxury consumption could thus be described as the consumption of any good(s) for which the simple use or display of a particular branded product brings esteem for its owner (Wiedmann et al 2009). According to Echikson (1994), people want quality and value, but if prices were lowered, they assume that you are lowering the value and the quality. It could therefore be said that the higher the pri ce of a good, the more it is assumed the good is of a high value. Online private shopping club is the latest innovation in the age of e-commerce and is particularly widespread in several countries like USA, Germany, Spain, UK, Turkey and France. It is simply the sale of luxury designer goods online at discount prices. Constantinides et al. (2010) cite Internet World Statistics which assert that there are more than 1.5 billion internet users and this has affected globalization, trad... ...instead it might gain momentum because many consumers seek luxurious quality products at discount prices and there is a need for consumers to be associated with luxury brands and value. In addition, it is a convenient method of shopping that saves time. The recession left a lasting impact on consumer’s choices and behaviour towards consumption. As a result, consumers are willing to go through any means to acquire luxury goods at discount prices even though in some cases, they don’t need the goods, but the mere fact it’s inexpensive is an incentive for them to purchase the products and this has promoted the trend. Venture capitalists and online retailers like Amazon are acquiring online private shopping club to avoid missing out on this trend (Palmer, 2010). This shows that the consumer trend online private shopping club will grow and expand further for some time.

Student Attendance Monitoring

Wale in partial fulfillment of the Requirements in Computer Programming NC-IV ,has been examined and is commended for your approval and acceptance this August , 2014. DIRT Adviser The Oral Examination Committee Oral Examination Grade Ms. Germinal F. Malice Ms . Sheens Rose F. Beguiler Faculty Member Ms. Made L. Soon School President Faculty Member Approved and Accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in Computer Programming NC IV Ms. Mandela. Soon I would like to dedicate this project to our Lord God, who gave us strength and power to do our tasks every day.Secondly, I sincerely dedicate this project to our beloved School President Ms. Made L. Soon and to all tech staff who never get tired of us to teaches, accommodated and support us even in awkward time. And lastly, to our supportive Parent's, who always there to guide us and gave their moral support. Acknowledgement I wish to thank Ms. Made L. Soon our School President, for supporting and helping us in making this syste m. Without their support we would not have realized our dream to fulfill this challenge in our life of study.We can only promise to pay back by availing our skills to this school of tech Computer Academy. I also want to thank our parents for supporting us to make this project. And we also want to express our appreciation to our classmates and friends who helped us in one way or another during the course of developing this project. So, thank you to all people who helped and support us. I also want to thank our Father God who give us the knowledge and wisdom to make this project, without his help and guidance we can never to this project, so We thank him a lot for helping us.Abstract I system entitled â€Å"tech Computerized Student Attendance Monitoring System†, helps our faculty to manage the schedule of a student in proper way. Our system was developed in Visual Basic 6. With Diversification using Microsoft Access Application. This system will make text information of studen ts of this school. After developing this research project it will help and easy to monitor the attendance of all students. Through the use of search engine the information you wants to know will appear.The Research project will be discuss and presented with sample programs, on how to create a simple Student Attendance Monitoring System using a Microsoft Access. Chapter l: Introduction Background of the Study The attendance monitoring system is a system that would check and record the attendance of a student in a class. Similar to the ID swiping machine at the entrance of each college in the university, this machine will be placed in each classroom to precisely monitor the students and the professor in their respective classes this system is software-based because of its storage of inputs that could be viewed in any compatible browser.The system Background of the Study The attendance monitoring system is a system that would check and record the attendance of a student in a class. Sim ilar to the ID swiping machine at the entrance of each college in the university, this machine will be placed in each classroom to precisely monitor the dents and the professor in their respective classes. Statement of the Problem General Problem How does â€Å"decompositions Student Attendance Monitoring System† helps the faculty to keep and secured the attendance of the student?Specific Problem 1 . What is the profile of your respondents in terms of the following: a. Age b. Gender c. Course 2. What is the importance of â€Å"tech Computerized Student Attendance Monitoring System†? 3. What is the advantages of â€Å"tech Computerized Student Attendance Monitoring System†? 4. Why do we need to implement the â€Å"tech Computerized Student Attendance Monitoring System helps the tech Computer Academy? Hypothesis Age, gender and course do not affect the variables involved in the Computerized Student Attendance Monitoring System. Objectives of the Study 3 Significa nce of the Study A â€Å"Student Attendance Monitoring System†, will be used by the faculty to check easily the Attendance of the students of tech Computer Academy Inc. This proposed project will give information on how to monitor Students using this system. It will benefit the user because it aims to help the faculty easier. It also helps the Admit monitoring more efficient. Scope and Delimitation This research project will focus on the topic on Student Attendance Monitoring. The researchers came up with the approach of using database which contains a list of names, dates and time on when they arrived. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework A Student Attendance Monitoring System (SAM) is being developed to provide a reliable, secure, and efficient method of recording student attendance. The project involves two phases of IT development. The first part involves the development of SAM within SAP Student Lifestyle Management (Slam) and integration with Syllabus Plus and a scanning so lution. It also includes the development of an on-line student absence notice form with document management and appropriate workflow for approval and updating of attendance record.SAP Business Warehouse will be used to produce reports of absence including incorporation of records available in other systems (e-Portfolio and Blackboard) to enable comprehensive reporting of attendance. The second part of the project is the collection of in-class attendance data. Paradigm Input Process Output Benefits Users: Faculty Admit. Computerized Student Attendance Monitoring System. Ready to access About Students Information. The user easily monitors the students. This system provides a security here in tech Computer Academy Inc.Data: Visual Basic Database Microsoft Access Minimize the effort of the Blue Desk Focal. Device: Monitor Mouse Keyboard System Unit These hardware devices are the most important tools for easy findings information about the system. 6 Definition of terms Students- a person engaged in study; one who is devoted to learning a learner. Computer- is a programmable machine that receives input, stores and automatically manipulates data, and provides output in a useful format. Visual Basic- is a arrogating language developed in 1991 as a simple method of creating Graphic User Interfaces, or Guy's.Visual basic was an early example of an object-oriented programming language. The programming environment is also an easy-to-use GUI system. Icons- are the small graphical image that represents files, folder or application. Microsoft Word- or simply as WORD is a word processing application that supplies you with all the important tools that you need in creating a wide variety of documents such as memos, outlines, newsletters, etc. Word provides you a window called word window where you can create your documents. Attendance-is the act or fact of attending (being present at) work.Monitoring- is an intermittent (regular or irregular) series of observations in time, car ried out to show the extent of compliance with a formulated standard or degree of deviation from an expected norm. 7 Related literature Local Literature Saint Marry University â€Å"Students Attendance Monitoring System† Booming Uneven Vicar A computerized system that will facilitate a faster and easier checking of student's attendance during the implementation of departmental and/or institutional programs is now being utilized at the School of SIT.The system was developed BMW. Rogue B. Tabor, an IT instructor whose objectives in developing the system are the following: to make the checking of attendance easier and faster, to keep accurate records of students attendance, to eradicate or at least minimize complaints of students on erroneous data on attendance, and to inspire IT students to develop computerize systems that will make processes easier. 8 Foreign Literature The University Senate has agreed a unified University policy on attendance monitoring for all home and inter national students.This is to ensure equity of treatment across the whole student population and enable attendance monitoring to e an effective tool for identifying any problems at an early stage and offering students appropriate support. Departments are therefore required to monitor attendance and review engagement with the programmer of study, for all home and international students. Two documents entitled â€Å"SAM Policy & Guidance for Depth (with effect from 2012-13)† and â€Å"Policy Appendix: Guidance for Depth relating to Checkpoints† are available (see Downloads box on the right).Systems for Attendance Monitoring The University has developed central Student Attendance Monitoring (SAM) systems o assist departments in recording both student attendance throughout the year and student engagement at specific Check Points during the year. These systems include a Reporting Facility to assist in monitoring and reviewing student attendance/ engagement data. Further info rmation and guidance on the various systems available can be found at: http://www. Sheaf. C. UK/SD/Sam 9 Chapter Ill Methodology The â€Å"tech Computerized Students Attendance Monitoring System† aims to help the Faculty to easily monitor the studentship's Computer Academy Inc. The respondents are the students of this institution. We make a questionnaire to gather information. Research Design In this research study I used the descriptive and quantitative type of research to be obtained information among the faculty and staffs of tech Computer Academy Inc.Malicious, Panamanian. Respondent My respondents are the faculty and student of ‘Tech Computer Academy Inc. The selected respondent is composed of 186 members. Statistical Treatment For the statistical treatment, the researchers will use the frequency distribution and the percentage for the computation of the sample size. N=Sample Size n=number of the respondents E=margin of error 11 Research Design 12

Nike- Managerial Case Study - 4914 Words

NIKE Business Case Study Management Theory (BUS830-13) Submitted to: Dr. J. Saleeby Done by: Rola El Cheikh 201005281 Thursday, December 23, 2010 Executive Summary Nike hit the ground running in 1962. Originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports, the company focused on providing high quality running shoes designed especially for athletes by athletes, at competitive prices. Today, Nike is the worlds leading maker of athletic shoes, equipment and apparel. Nike has invested highly on marketing. It has signed exclusive and expensive marketing deals with some of the worlds top athletes to promote its products. Nike’s marketing campaigns featured winning athletes as spokespeople, and winning teams as an indication of Nike success.†¦show more content†¦In 1988, Nike declared its first ads in â€Å"the just do it† campaign. Later and after entering the European market, Nike became actively involved as a sponsor of soccer youth leagues, local clubs, and national teams. The big break came in 1994, when the Brazilian team, the national team for which Nike had real sponsorship, won the World Cup. The victory led overseas revenues to surpass U.S revenues for the first time. Today Nike dominates the athletic footwear market. Nine of the 10 top selling basketball shoes, for example, are Nikes. Nike introduces hundreds of shoes each year for 30 sports, averaging one new shoe style every day of the year. Swooshes abound on everything from wristwatches to golf clubs to swimming caps. In the light of management theory, the founder had played the role of the entrepreneur who committed organizational resources to develop innovative goods and services. He decided to expand internationally to open new markets for the company’s products. Nike’s management is in accordance with the administrative management theory. They focus on identifying the principles that will lead to the creation of the most efficient system of the organization and management. Their theory evolved to organizational environment theory with an open system that takes in resources from its external global environment and converts them into goods and services that are sent back to the environment for purchase byShow MoreRelatedNike- Managerial Case Study4930 Words   |  20 PagesNIKE Business Case Study Management Theory (BUS830-13) Submitted to: Dr. J. Saleeby Done by: Rola El Cheikh 201005281 Thursday, December 23, 2010 Executive Summary Nike hit the ground running in 1962. Originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports, the company focused on providing high quality running shoes designed especially for athletes by athletes, at competitive prices. Today, Nike is the worlds leading maker of athletic shoes, equipment and apparel. Nike has invested highly on marketing. It hasRead MoreAnalysis of Three Videos on Outsourcing967 Words   |  4 PagesThree Videos on Outsourcing In the video Nike sweatshops - Try Not To Cry the filmmaker has successfully used a series of rhetorical devices, both visually and through auditory means, to make their point of how unethical Nike is for outsourcing their production to 3rd world nations. The intensive use visual rhetoric include crying babies, sweatshop conditions and a sad soundtrack all are designed to support this anti-outsourcing message against Nike. The visual rhetoric extends beyond the useRead MoreA Case Study Of Nestle S.a1368 Words   |  6 Pages This case study of Nestlà © S.A. will identify and analyse on a managerial issue that this company has undergone. The issue recognised is the use of child labour in cocoa production. This problem is a violation of child labour and human trafficking laws. This problem in society is completely unethical and inhumane and multiple global companies have had similar issues related to their production lines. Many articles have stated similar arguments and opinions towards this type of labour. There haveRead MoreNike s Organisational Structure, Motivation Of Their Workforce And Managing Cross Cultural Conflict2016 Words   |  9 Pages Introduction: Nike is an American multinational corporation that is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing and worldwide marketing and sales of sporting apparel and accessories (Sage, 2008). Nike is the world leader in the segment of athletic shoes and apparel (Iqbal, n.d.). The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges and issues faced by Nike’s management, and what factors have led to such issues. Furthermore, what theories and strategies can be used to explain the issuesRead MoreCBU Syllabus 2015 MBAC 51031353 Words   |  6 PagesCourse Overview and Objectives The course will provide students with an introduction to the basic tenets of accounting tailored with a specific emphasis on issues relevant to CED enterprises. The course is a unique combination of financial and managerial accounting themes designed particularly for those working in a CED environment. We begin with the fundamental financial accounting concepts and principles upon which modern accounting is based. These will be applied to the traditional balanceRead MoreThe Relationship Between Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility2613 Words   |  11 Pages(2003) defined managerial ethics as â€Å"standards of conduct and moral judgement managers’ use conducting their business†. The objective of this essay is to analyze the relationship between ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR). It will start with the principle concept of ethics, business ethics, and corporate social responsibility; the important of ethics in CSR that corporations should comply with; and comparing the two case studies of corporations that adopted CSR and managerial ethics. VelasquezRead MoreHistory Of Scientific Management And Its Impact On Managerial Accounting Essay1825 Words   |  8 Pagesdependent on both competitive wages, as well as maximum productivity. Taylor’s Impact on Managerial Accounting Frederick Wilson Taylor has become known as the father of scientific management, and his work had a significant impact on the progressive period. When first developing the formal definition of managerial accounting, Taylor’s studies were heavily referenced throughout the process. This definition defines managerial accounting as â€Å"the process of identification, measurement, accumulation analysisRead MoreNike Case Study1779 Words   |  8 PagesNike Case Study Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For Master of Business Administration Degree Tiffin University at University of Bucharest Information and Decision Support Course By Ciprian Jitaru Instructor: Prof. John J. Millar Ph.D. Dean Emeritus and Professor of Management Cohort 9 November 06, 2010 1. What external and internal pressures did Mark Parker face when he assumed the leadership of Nike, and how did he respond to this challenges? Read MoreCase Study9153 Words   |  37 PagesCOLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT, AND LOGISTIC INTRODUCTION OF MANAGEMENT (BPMN1013) RESEARCH OF CASE STUDY PREPARED BY: GROUP 11 TABLE OF CONTENT 1.0. Acknowledgement†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦3 2.0. Case study 2.1- Case 1- McDonald’s : Grilling Up an Empire†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.4 2.2- Case 9- Sony Corporation : An Evolution of Technology†¦14 2.3- Case 10- Nike :Spreading Out to Stay Together†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.23 3.0. References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦.42 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Special thanks to ourRead MoreA001426205 Bellamy Charles STMK Essay2945 Words   |  12 Pagescomments FOR MODERATOR’S USE ONLY  I agree with the assessor’s assessment  I disagree with the assessor’s assessment and the new mark is as follows for the following reasons: /20 Moderator: Title: NIKE case study Assignment topic: You have been provided with a case study of NIKE. In your case report, identify three or four Marketing Challenges covered in this subject and address how those challenges can be met using the principles developed in this subject. Please ensure to use academic in-text

Failure of the American Dream in Arthur Millers Death of...

Failure of the American Dream in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller forces the reader to deal with the failure of the American Dream(Field 2367) and the effect it had on the Loman family, how it ruins the life of Willy, and destroys Biff’s life as well. By focusing on serious problems that the reader can relate to, Arthur Miller connects us with the characters facing these life-altering crisis. To Willy Loman success is defined as being a well-liked businessman. As Willy grew up, his American Dream was to be able to â€Å"pick up his phone and call the buyers, and without ever leaving his room, at the age of eighty-four, make his living.† (81) This is Willie’s dream, to be†¦show more content†¦When Biff suggest that he does not belong in the business world, but rather as a blue collared worker, Willy falls back on this American ideal of â€Å"Even your grandfather was better than a carpenter.† (61) The more Biff begins to realize that the American Dream is not for him, or his father, the harder it is to pretend that he cares about it. Biff denies the fact that the American Dream is not for him for over fifteen years. He has always claimed that he was just â€Å"finding himself†. Willy could not except the fact that Biff could get lost with the idea that â€Å"In the greatest country in the world [where] a young man with such personal attractiveness†¦and such a hard worker could get lost.† (16) This idea that anyone can make it big is all Willy believes in, â€Å"Be liked and you will never want.† (33) is the attitude that Willy has trusted in his whole life. Biff begins to understand that there is more to life then being liked, and selling products. As Biff becomes less and less attached to the American Dream the closer he comes to happiness. â€Å"To devote your whole life to keeping stock, or making phone calls , or selling or buying. To suffer fifty weeks of the year for the sake of a two-week vacation, when all you really desire is to be outdoors, with your shirt off. And always to have to get ahead of the next fella.† (22) His whole life has been leading to the point when he acknowledges this fact and tells his father whatShow MoreRelated Failure of the American Dream in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman932 Words   |  4 PagesFailure of the American Dream in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman is a story about the dark side of the American Dream.   Willy Lomans obsession with the dream directly causes his failure in life, which, in turn, leads to his eventual suicide.   The pursuit of the dream also destroys the lives of Willys family, as well.   Through the Lomans, Arthur Miller attempts to create a typical American family of the time, and, in doing so, the reader can relateRead MoreArthur Miller Criticism913 Words   |  4 Pages Arthur Miller is a highly distinguished author. He is considered by many to be one of Americas greatest writers. As distinguished a writer he is, Miller deserves to be selected for a spot in the prestigious American Author Hall of Fame. His works meet the criteria for the American Authors Hall of Fame since they have themes important to society, are unique, and have universal appeal. Arthur Millers works meet the American Author Hall of Fames first criteria by dealing with themes highly importantRead More Destruction of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman Essay1042 Words   |  5 Pagessame dream that says this is a country where anything’s possible. No matter who you are. No matter where you come from.† -- President Obama, Commenting on the American Dream The American Dream is a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success. It is the belief that, no matter how poor you begin life, you can achieve upward social mobility for your family and children. Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, crushes the ethos of the American Dream. Miller’sRead More The American Dream Conspiracy in Death of a Salesman Essay1728 Words   |  7 PagesArthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman tells the story of the failure of a salesman, Willy Loman. Although not all Americans are salesmen, most of us share Willy’s dream of success. We are all partners in the American Dream and parties to the conspiracy of silence surrounding the fact that failures must outnumber successes.(Samantaray, 2014) Miller amalgamates the archetypal tragic hero with the mundane American citizen. The result is the anti-hero, Willy Loman. He is a simple salesman who constantlyRead MoreA Detailed Analysis of Death of a Salesman1199 Words   |  5 PagesLook at Death of a Salesman Death of a Salesman has been accepted worldwide as one of the greatest American dramas to premier in theatre. The story behind the play is based on Miller’s interactions with his Uncle, a salesman whose efforts to obtain the â€Å"American Dream† and pass his success on to his two sons becomes his main focus. Miller’s life during the preparation of Death of a Salesman provides the spark and inspiration needed to pen a literary classic. Almost five decades later, Death of a Salesman’sRead More Failure of the America Dream in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman1097 Words   |  5 PagesFailure of the America Dream in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman examines Willy Lowman’s struggle to hold on to his American Dream that is quickly slipping from his grasp. As Americans, we are all partners in the â€Å"dream† and Willy’s failure causes each of us anxiety since most of us can readily identify with Willy. Most Americans can readily identify with Willy. As children, our minds are filled with a â€Å"marketing orientation† as soon as weRead MoreMarxism In Arthur Millers Death Of A Salesman1465 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Willy Lowman sought to attain the American Dream, but his distorted view of Marxist control ultimately provoked his physical, material, and mental destruction. Lowman, a middle-class salesman, husband, and father of two shared the ideology of many American’s, an ideology that hard work, dedication, and likeability was attainable regardless of social class, or life circumstances. Yet, the multiple distortions Willy associated with this dream combined withRead MoreWilly Loman And The American Dream Analysis1075 Words   |  5 PagesPursuit of Happiness in the American Dream In Arthur Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman, Willy Lomans pursuit of the American Dream is characterized by his selfishness, demonstrating how the American Dream can subtly turn into the American Nightmare. However, Willy’s role is quite important because he often led to failure through the creation of the American Dream and the real world. To fully understand the storyline of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, one must evaluate each member of theRead MoreDeath Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller1573 Words   |  7 Pagesrepresents a character with a tragic flaw leading to his downfall. In addition, in traditional tragedy, the main character falls from high authority and often it is predetermined by fate, while the audience experiences catharsis (Bloom 2). Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman is considered to be a tragedy because this literary work has some of the main characteristics of the tragedy genre. In this play, the main character Willy Loman possesses such traits and behaviors that lead to his downfall, and theRead MoreArthur Miller s Death Of A Salesman Essay1567 Words   |  7 Pagescharacter with a tragic flaw leading to his downfall. In addition, in traditional tragedy, the main character falls from high authority and often it is predetermined by fate, while the audience experiences catharsis (Irving 247). Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman is considered to be a tragedy because this literary work has some of the main characteristics of the tragedy genre. In this play, the main character Willy Loman possesses such traits and behaviors that lead to his downfall, and the

Essay about Significance of the abject in Metamorphosis

Discuss the significance of the abject in Metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is a remarkable novel that has spanned numerous themes; from alienation to the absurdity of life. And one of the major themes is that of the abject. The abject, by definition, describes something brought low in position or condition, lacking in courage, or simply rejected. In short, the abject is a recurring theme throughout Metamorphosis – both literally; in the form of Gregor’s grotesque physical form, and metaphorically; in the way Gregor reacts to and is treated by his family. Thus the significance of the abject on Gregor and his family will be the basis of analysis in this essay. Firstly, the physical sense of the abject is presented almost immediately in†¦show more content†¦The contrast between his position in life before and after the transformation was almost as marked as the transformation itself. In this way, the physical abject is not only a cause of the social abject, but also a symbol of it as well. Furthermore, Gregor’s descent into social and physical abjection then forces his family to change radically in order to support themselves. In the beginning, Gregor starts off as the provider for his family. He hates his job, but he still goes above and beyond the call of duty to give his family a more comfortable life, even indulging the expensive endeavour of his sisters’ dream of studying the violin. However, after the metamorphosis, he is thrust into the role of a dependant – forcing his family to take responsibility and support themselves. His sister steps up to the plate in the beginning, giving him a selection of foodstuffs to find what he likes and even cleaning up after him. His parents are still in denial at this point, so much so that they refuse to see him at all. But as time goes by, his family begins to accept the situation and even try to help Grete out. His father produces some money from his previous failed business venture and his mother and sis ter try to make life more comfortable for Gregor. Grete in particular changes the most noticeably; Gregor himself notes at the beginning that her life up till that point had been â€Å"enviable†, consisting of â€Å"wearing niceShow MoreRelatedGregor Samsa Transforms into a Hideous Creature , Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis824 Words   |  3 Pageshimself transformed into a â€Å"monstrous vermin†; and one cannot help but instinctively cringe in disgust at the idea of transforming into a creature as repulsive as a giant insect. In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, Kafka’s choice of a vermin as an agent for Gregor’s transformation is not random. The significance of the bug is extensive as this symbol not only represents the meaninglessness and emptiness of Gregor’s life as a man, but also reflects the impersonal and dehumanizing treatment of Gregor by hisRead MoreAbject Design: a Psychoanalytic/Structuralist Analysis of Julia Kristev a’s â€Å"the Old Man and the Wolves†2303 Words   |  10 Pages------------------------------------------------- Abject Design ------------------------------------------------- A psychoanalytic/structuralist analysis of Julia Kristeva’s â€Å"The Old Man and the Wolves† Julia Kristeva’s The Old Man and the Wolves details the gradual degeneration of the fundamentally corruptible community of Santa Varvara. As described by the novel’s namesake, the Old Man Septicious Clarus, in terms of singularity, morality and—both metaphorically and palpably—humanity, eachRead MoreRomanticism and Modernism as Strange Bedfellows: A Fresh Look at Jack Kerouacs On the Road12240 Words   |  49 Pagesmigrant road as a place of ‘kicks’† (37). However, the west was not exactly the west of Paradise’s dreams. Not only is Sal disillusioned by the mass commercialism of a Wild West festival, but he spends two weeks in a migrant camp in California in abject poverty living on fresh picked grapes before fleeing to the open road. The last theme the argument addresses is Mexico, the ultimate frontier, originally viewed as the â€Å"fellaheen† utopia of romantic purity and indigenous primitiveness. Upon arrivingRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesdirection becomes deemed to be irrational, if not pathological. For how can the parts of the body corporate not automatically respond to the commands of the brain, or even conflict with one another, unless there is some illness present? The ideological significance of such a way of conceiving organizations becomes only too evident. For a very different view of the corporation, see the Ideas and perspectives box, overleaf. As noted earlier, organizations have come to dominate human society. Hence, theories

Forward the Foundation Chapter 28 Free Essays

27 It was a lovely day, neither too warm nor too cold, not too bright nor too gray. Even though the groundskeeping budget had given out years ago, the few straggly perennials lining the steps leading up to the Galactic Library managed to add a cheerful note to the morning. (The Library, having been built in the classical style of antiquity, was fronted with one of the grandest stairways to be found in the entire Empire, second only to the steps at the Imperial Palace itself. We will write a custom essay sample on Forward the Foundation Chapter 28 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Most Library visitors, however, preferred to enter via the gliderail) Seldon had high hopes for the day. Since he and Stettin Palver had been cleared of all charges in their recent assault and battery case, Hari Seldon felt like a new man. Although the experience had been painful, its very public nature had advanced Seldon’s cause. Judge Tejan Popjens Lih, who was considered one of, if not the most influential judge on Trantor, had been quite vociferous in her opinion, delivered the day following Rial Nevas’s emotional testimony. â€Å"When we come to such a crossroads in our ‘civilized’ society,† the judge intoned from her bench, â€Å"that a man of Professor Hari Seldon’s standing is made to bear the humiliation, abuse, and lies of his peers simply because of who he is and what he stands for, it is truly a dark day for the Empire. I admit that I, too, was taken in-at first. ‘Why wouldn’t Professor Seldon,’ I reasoned, ‘resort to such trickery in an attempt to prove his predictions?’ But, as I came to see, I was most grievously wrong.† Here the judge’s brow furrowed, a dark blue flush began creeping up her neck and into her cheeks. â€Å"For I was ascribing to Professor Seldon motives born of our new society, a society in which honesty, decency, and goodwill are likely to get one killed, a society in which it appears one must resort to dishonesty and trickery merely to survive. â€Å"How far we have strayed from our founding principles. We were lucky this time, fellow citizens of Trantor. We owe a debt of thanks to Professor Hari Seldon for showing us our true selves; let us take his example to heart and resolve to be vigilant against the baser forces of our human nature.† Following the hearing, the Emperor had sent Seldon a congratulatory holo-disc. On it he expressed the hope that perhaps now Seldon would find renewed funding for his Project. As Seldon slid up the entrance gliderail, he reflected on the current status of his Psychohistory Project. His good friend-the former Chief Librarian Las Zenow-had retired. During his tenure, Zenow had been a strong proponent of Seldon and his work. More often than not, however, Zenow’s hands had been tied by the Library Board. But, he had assured Seldon, the affable new Chief Librarian, Tryma Acarnio, was as progressive as he himself, and was popular with many factions among the Board membership. â€Å"Hari, my friend,† Zenow had said before leaving Trantor for his home world of Wencory, â€Å"Acarnio is a good man, a person of deep intellect and an open mind. I’m sure he’ll do all that he can to help you and the Project. I’ve left him the entire data file on you and your EncyIopedia; I know he’ll be as excited as I about the contribution to humanity it represents. Take care, my friend-I’ll remember you fondly.† And so today Hari Seldon was to have his first official meeting with the new Chief Librarian. He was cheered by the reassurances Las Zenow had left with him and he was looking forward to sharing his plans for the future of the Project and the Encyclopedia. Tryma Acarnio stood as Hari entered the Chief Librarian’s office. Already he had made his mark on the place; whereas Zenow had stuffed every nook and cranny of the room with holo-discs and tridijournals from the different sectors of Trantor, and a dizzying array of visiglobes representing various worlds of the Empire had spun in midair, Acarnio had swept clear the mounds of data and images that Zenow had liked to keep at his fingertips. A large holoscreen now dominated one wall on which, Seldon presumed, Acarnio could view any publication or broadcast that he desired. Acarnio was short and stocky, with a slightly distracted look-from a childhood corneal correction that had gone awry-that belied a fearsome intelligence and constant awareness of everything going on around him at all times. â€Å"Well, well. Professor Seldon. Come in. Sit down.† Acarnio gestured to a straight-backed chair facing the desk at which he sat. â€Å"It was, I felt, quite fortuitous that you requested this meeting. You see, I had intended to get in touch with you as soon as I settled in.† Seldon nodded, pleased that the new Chief Librarian had considered him enough of a priority to plan to seek him out in the hectic early days of his tenure. â€Å"But, first, Professor, please let me know why you wanted to see me before we move on to my, most likely, more prosaic concerns.† Seldon cleared his throat and leaned forward. â€Å"Chief Librarian, Las Zenow has no doubt told you of my work here and of my idea for an Encyclopedia Galactica. Las was quite enthusiastic, and a great help, providing a private office for me here and unlimited access to the Library’s vast resources. In fact, it was he who located the eventual home of the Encyclopedia Project, a remote Outer World called Terminus. â€Å"There was one thing, however, that Las could not provide. In order to keep the Project on schedule, I must have office space and unlimited access granted to a number of my colleagues, as well. It is an enormous undertaking, just gathering the information to be copied and transferred to Terminus before we can begin the actual work of compiling the Encyclopedia. â€Å"Las was not popular with the Library Board, as you undoubtedly are aware. You, however, are. And so I ask you, Chief Librarian: Will you see to it that my colleagues are granted insiders’ privileges so that we may continue our most vital work?† Here Hari stopped, almost out of breath. He was sure that his speech, which he had gone over and over in his mind the night before, would have the desired effect. He waited, confident in Acarnio’s response. â€Å"Professor Seldon,† Acarnio began. Seldon’s expectant smile faded. There was an edge to the Chief Librarian’s voice that Seldon had not expected. â€Å"My esteemed predecessor provided me-in exhaustive detail-an explication of your work here at the Library. He was quite enthusiastic about your research and committed to the idea of your colleagues joining you here. As was I, Professor Seldon†-at Acarnio’s pause, Seldon looked up sharply-â€Å"at first. I was prepared to call a special meeting of the Board to propose that a larger suite of offices be prepared for you and your Encyclopedists. But, Professor Seldon, all that has now changed.† â€Å"Changed! But why?† â€Å"Professor Seldon, you have just finished serving as principal defendant in a most sensational assault and battery case.† â€Å"But I was acquitted,† Seldon broke in. â€Å"The case never even made it to trial.† â€Å"Nonetheless, Professor, your latest foray into the public eye has given you an undeniable-how shall I say it?-tinge of ill repute. Oh yes, you were acquitted of all charges. But in order to get to that acquittal, your name, your past, your beliefs, and your work were paraded before the eyes of all the worlds. And even if one progressive right-thinking judge has proclaimed you faultless, what of the millions-perhaps billions-of other average citizens who see not a pioneering psychohistorian striving to preserve his civilization’s glory but a raving lunatic shouting doom and gloom for the great and mighty Empire? â€Å"You, by the very nature of your work, are threatening the essential fabric of the Empire. I don’t mean the huge, nameless, faceless, monolithic Empire. No, I am referring to the heart and soul of the Empire-its people. When you tell them the Empire is failing, you are saying that they are failing. And this, my dear Professor, the average citizen cannot face. â€Å"Seldon, like it or not, you have become an object of derision, a subject of ridicule, a laughingstock.† â€Å"Pardon me, Chief Librarian, but for years now I have been, to some circles, a laughingstock.† â€Å"Yes, but only to some circles. But this latest incident-and the very public forum in which it was played out-has opened you up to ridicule not only here on Trantor but throughout the worlds. And, Professor, if, by providing you an office, we, the Galactic Library, give tacit approval to your work, then, by inference, we, the Library, also become a laughingstock throughout the worlds. And no matter how strongly I may personally believe in your theory and your Encyclopedia, as Chief Librarian of the Galactic Library on Trantor, I must think of the Library first. â€Å"And so, Professor Seldon, your request to bring in your colleagues is denied.† Hari Seldon jerked back in his chair as if struck. â€Å"Further,† Acarnio continued, â€Å"I must advise you of a two-week temporary suspension of all Library privileges-effective immediately. The Board has called that special meeting, Professor Seldon. In two weeks’ time we will notify you whether or not we’ve decided that our association with you must be terminated.† Here, Acarnio stopped speaking and, placing his palms on the glossy, spotless surface of his desk, stood up. â€Å"That is all, Professor Seldon-for now.† Hari Seldon stood as well, although his upward movement was not as smooth, nor as quick, as Tryma Acarnio’s. â€Å"May I be permitted to address the Board?† asked Seldon. â€Å"Perhaps if I were able to explain to them the vital importance of psychohistory and the Encyclopedia-â€Å" â€Å"I’m afraid not, Professor,† said Acarnio softly and Seldon caught a brief glimmer of the man Las Zenow had told him about. But, just as quickly, the icy bureaucrat was back as Acarnio guided Seldon to the door. As the portals slid open, Acarnio said, â€Å"Two weeks, Professor Seldon. Till then.† Hari stepped through to his waiting skitter and the doors slid shut. What am I going to do now? wondered Seldon disconsolately. Is this the end of my work? 28 â€Å"Wanda dear, what is it that has you so engrossed?† asked Hari Seldon as he entered his granddaughter’s office at Streeling University. The room had been the office of the brilliant mathematician Yugo Amaryl, whose death had impoverished the Psychohistory Project. Fortunately, Wanda had gradually taken over Yugo’s role in recent years, further refining and adjusting the Prime Radiant. â€Å"Why, I’m working on an equation in Section 33A2D17. See, I’ve recalibrated this section†-she gestured to a glowing violet patch suspended in midair in front of her face-‘taking into consideration the standard quotient and-There! Just what I thought-I think.† She stepped back and rubbed her eyes. â€Å"What is it, Wanda?† Hari moved in closer to study the equation. â€Å"Why, this looks like the Terminus equation and yet†¦ Wanda, this is an inverse of the Terminus equation, isn’t it?† â€Å"Yes, Grandpa. See, the numbers weren’t working quite right in the Terminus equation-look.† Wanda touched a contact in a recessed wallstrip and another patch sprang to life in vivid red on the other side of the room. Seldon and Wanda walked over to inspect it. â€Å"You see how it’s all hanging together fine now, Grandpa? It’s taken me weeks to get it this way.† â€Å"How did you do it?† asked Hari, admiring the equation’s lines, its logic, its elegance. â€Å"At first, I concentrated on it from over here only. I blocked out all else. In order to get Terminus to work, work on Terminus-stands to reason, doesn’t it? But then I realized that I couldn’t just introduce this equation into the Prime Radiant system and expect it to blend right in smoothly, as if nothing happened. A placement means a displacement somewhere else. A weight needs a counterweight.† â€Å"I think the concept to which you are referring is what the ancients called ‘yin and yang.’ â€Å" â€Å"Yes, more or less. Yin and yang. So, you see, I realized that to perfect the yin of Terminus, I had to locate its yang. Which I did, over there.† She moved back to the violet patch, tucked away at the other edge of the Prime Radiant sphere. â€Å"And once I adjusted the figures here, the Terminus equation fell into place as well. Harmony!† Wanda looked pleased with herself, as if she’d solved all the problems of the Empire. â€Å"Fascinating, Wanda, and later on you must tell me what you think it all means for the Project. But right now you must come with me to the holoscreen. I received an urgent message from Santanni a few minutes ago. Your father wants us to call him immediately.† Wanda’s smile faded. She had been alarmed at the recent reports of fighting on Santanni. As Imperial budget cutbacks went into effect, the citizens of the Outer Worlds suffered most. They had limited access to the richer, more populous Inner Worlds and it became more and more difficult to trade their worlds’ products for much needed imports. Imperial hyperships going in and out of Santanni were few and the distant world felt isolated from the rest of the Empire. Pockets of rebellion had erupted throughout the planet. â€Å"Grandfather, I hope everything’s all right,† said Wanda, her fear revealed by her voice. â€Å"Don’t worry, dear. After all, they must be safe if Raych was able to send us a message.† In Seldon’s office, he and Wanda stood before the holoscreen as it activated. Seldon punched a code on the keypad alongside the screen and they waited a few seconds for the intragalactic connection to be established. Slowly the screen seemed to stretch back into the wall, as if it were the entrance to a tunnel-and out of the tunnel, dimly at first, came the familiar figure of a stocky powerfully built man. As the connection sharpened, the man’s features became clearer. When Seldon and Wanda were able to make out Raych’s bushy Dahlite mustache, the figure sprang to life. â€Å"Dad! Wanda!† said Raych’s three-dimensional hologram, projected to Trantor from Santanni. â€Å"Listen, I don’t have much time.† He flinched, as if startled by a loud noise. â€Å"Things have gotten pretty bad here. The government has fallen and a provisional party has taken over. Things are a mess, as you can imagine. I just put Manella and Bellis on a hypership to Anacreon. I told them to get in touch with you from there. The name of the ship is the Arcadia VII. â€Å"You should have seen Manella, Dad. Mad as anything that she had to go. The only way I was able to convince her to leave was to point out that it was for Bellis’s sake. â€Å"I know what you’re thinking, Dad and Wanda. Of course I would have gone with them-if I could have. But there wasn’t enough room. You should’ve seen what I had to go through just to get them onto the ship.† Raych flashed one of his lopsided grins that Seldon and Wanda loved so much, then continued. â€Å"Besides, since I’m here, I have to help guard the University-we may be part of the Imperial University system, but we’re a place of learning and building, not of destruction. I tell you, if one of those hot-headed Santanni rebels comes near our stuff-â€Å" â€Å"Raych,† Hari broke in, â€Å"How bad is it? Are you close to the fighting?† â€Å"Dad, are you in danger?† asked Wanda. They waited a few seconds for their message to travel the nine thousand parsecs across the Galaxy to Raych. â€Å"I-I-I couldn’t quite make out what you said,† the hologram replied. â€Å"There’s a bit of fighting going on. It’s sort of exciting, actually,† Raych said, breaking into that grin again. â€Å"So I’m going to sign off now. Remember, find out what happened to the Arcadia VII going to Anacreon. I’ll be back in touch as soon as I’m able. Remember, I-† The transmission broke off and the hologram faded. The holoscreen tunnel collapsed in on itself so that Seldon and Wanda were left staring at a blank wall. â€Å"Grandpa,† said Wanda, â€Å"what do you think he was going to say?† â€Å"I have no idea, dear. But there is one thing I do know and that is that your father can take care of himself. I pity any rebel who gets near enough for a well-placed Twist-kick from your dad! Come, let’s get back to that equation and in a few hours we’ll check on the Arcadia VII.† *** â€Å"Commander, have you no idea what happened to the ship?† Hari Seldon was again engaged in intragalactic conversation, but this time it was with an Imperial navy commander stationed at Anacreon. For this communication, Seldon was making use of the visiscreen-much less realistic than the holoscreen but also much simpler. â€Å"I’m telling you, Professor, that we have no record of that hypership requesting permission to enter the Anacreonic atmosphere. Of course, communications with Santanni have been broken for several hours and sporadic at best for the last week. It is possible that the ship tried to reach us on a Santanni-based channel and could not get through, but I doubt it. â€Å"No, it’s more likely that the Arcadia VII changed destination. Voreg, perhaps, or Sarip. Have you tried either of those worlds, Professor?† â€Å"No,† said Seldon wearily, â€Å"but I see no reason if the ship was bound for Anacreon that it would not go to Anacreon. Commander, it is vital that I locate that ship.† â€Å"Of course,† the commander ventured, â€Å"the Arcadia VII might not have made it. Out safely, I mean. There’s a lot of fighting going on. Those rebels don’t care who they blow up. They just train their lasers and pretend it’s the Emperor Agis they’re blasting. I tell you, it’s a whole different game out here on the fringe, Professor.† â€Å"My daughter-in-law and granddaughter are on that ship, Commander,† Seldon said in a tight voice. â€Å"Oh, I’m sorry, Professor,† said an abashed commander. â€Å"I’ll be in touch with you as soon as I hear anything.† Dispiritedly Hari closed the visiscreen contact. How tired I am, he thought. And, he mused, I’m not surprised-I’ve known that this would come for nearly forty years. Seldon chuckled bitterly to himself. Perhaps that commander had thought he was shocking Seldon, impressing him with the vivid detail of life â€Å"on the fringe.† But Seldon knew all about the fringe. And as the fringe came apart, like a piece of knitting with one loose thread, the whole piece would unravel to the core: Trantor. Seldon became aware of a soft buzzing sound. It was the door signal. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"Grandpa,† said Wanda, entering the office, â€Å"I’m scared.† â€Å"Why, dear?† asked Seldon with concern. He didn’t want to tell her yet what he had learned-or hadn’t learned-from the commander on Anacreon. â€Å"Usually, although they’re so far away, I feel Dad and Mom and Bellis-feel them in here†-she pointed to her head-â€Å"and in here†-she placed her hand over her heart. â€Å"But now, today, I don’t feel them-it feels less, as if they’re fading, like one of the dome bulbs. And I want to stop it. I want to pull them back, but I can’t.† â€Å"Wanda, I really think this is merely a product of your concern for your family in light of the rebellion. You know that uprisings occur all over the Empire all the time-little eruptions to let off steam. Come now, you know that chances of anything happening to Raych, Manella, or Bellis are vanishingly small. Your dad will call any day to say all is well; your mom and Bellis will land on Anacreon at any moment and enjoy a little vacation. We are the ones to be pitied-we’re stuck here up to our ears in work! So, sweetheart, go to bed and think only good thoughts. I promise you, tomorrow, under the sunny dome, things will look much better.† â€Å"All right, Grandpa,† said Wanda, not sounding entirely convinced. â€Å"But tomorrow-if we haven’t heard by tomorrow-we’ll have to-to-â€Å" â€Å"Wanda, what can we do, except wait?† asked Hari, his voice gentle. Wanda turned and left, the weight of her worries showing in the slope of her shoulders. Hari watched her go, finally allowing his own worries to come to the surface. It had been three days since the hologram transmission from Raych. Since then-nothing. And today the naval commander at Anacreon denied ever having heard of a ship called Arcadia VII Hari had tried earlier to get through to Raych on Santanni, but all communication beams were down. It was as if Santanni-and the Arcadia VII-had simply broken off from the Empire, like a petal from a flower. Seldon knew what he had to do now. The Empire might be down, but it was not out. Its power, when properly wielded, was still awesome. Seldon placed an emergency transmission to Emperor Agis XIV. 29 â€Å"What a surprise-my friend Hari!† Agis’s visage beamed at Seldon through the holoscreen. â€Å"I am glad to hear from you, although you usually request the more formal personal audience. Come, you’ve piqued my interest. Why the urgency?† â€Å"Sire,† began Seldon, â€Å"my son, Raych, and his wife and daughter live on Santanni.† â€Å"Ah, Santanni,† the Emperor said as his smile faded. â€Å"A bunch of misguided wretches if I eve -â€Å" â€Å"Sire, please,† broke in Seldon, surprising both the Emperor and himself with this flagrant breach of Imperial protocol. â€Å"My son was able to get Manella and Bellis onto a hypership, the Arcadia VII, bound for Anacreon. He, however, had to remain. That was three days ago. The ship has not landed at Anacreon. And my son seems to have disappeared. My calls to Santanni have gone unanswered and now the communication beams are broken. â€Å"Please, Sire, can you help me?† â€Å"Hari, as you know, officially all ties between Santanni and Trantor have been severed. However, I still hold some influence in selected areas of Santanni. That is, there are still a few loyal to me who have not yet been found out. Although I cannot make direct contact with any of my operatives on that world, I can share with you any reports I receive from there. These are, of course, highly confidential, but considering your situation and our relationship, I will allow you access to those pieces that might interest you. â€Å"I am expecting another dispatch within the hour. If you like, I’ll recontact you when it arrives. In the meantime, I’ll have one of my aides go over all transmissions from Santanni for the past three days to look for anything pertaining to Raych, Manella, or Bellis Seldon.† â€Å"Thank you, Sire. I thank you most humbly.† And Hari Seldon dipped his head as the Emperor’s image faded from the holoscreen. Sixty minutes later Hari Seldon was still sitting at his desk, waiting to hear from the Emperor. The past hour had been one of the most difficult he had ever spent, second only to the hours after Dors’s destruction. It was the not knowing that did Hari in. He had made a career of knowing-the future as well as the present. And now he had no idea at all about three of the people most precious to him. The holoscreen buzzed softly and Hari pressed a contact in response. Agis appeared. â€Å"Hari,† began the Emperor. From the soft slow sadness in his voice, Hari knew this call brought bad news. â€Å"My son,† said Hari. â€Å"Yes,† replied the Emperor. â€Å"Raych was killed, earlier today, in a bombardment on Santanni University. I’ve learned from my sources that Raych knew the attack was coming but refused to desert his post. You see, a good number of the rebels are students and Raych felt that if they knew that he was still there, they would never†¦ But hate overcame all reason. â€Å"The University is, you see, an Imperial University. The rebels feel they must destroy all things Imperial before rebuilding anew. The fools! Why-† And here Agis stopped, as if suddenly realizing that Seldon did not care about Santanni University or the plans of the rebels-not right now, at least. â€Å"Hari, if it makes you feel any better, remember that your son died in defense of knowledge. It was not the Empire Raych fought and died for but humanity itself.† Seldon looked up out of tear-filled eyes. Weakly he asked, â€Å"And Manella and little Bellis? What of them? Have you found the Arcadia Hl?† â€Å"That search has proved fruitless, Hari. The Arcadia VII left Santanni, as you were told. But it seems to have disappeared. It may have been hijacked by rebels or it may have made an emergency detour-at this point, we just don’t know.† Seldon nodded. â€Å"Thank you, Agis. Although you have brought me tragic news, at least you have brought it. Not knowing was worse. You are a true friend.† â€Å"And so, my friend,† said the Emperor, â€Å"I’ll leave you to yourself now-and your memories.† The Emperor’s image faded from the screen as Hari Seldon folded his arms in front of him on his desk, put his head down, and wept. 30 Wanda Seldon adjusted the waistband of her unisuit, pulling it a little tighter around her middle. Taking up a hand hoe, she attacked some weeds that had sprung up in her small flower garden outside the Psychohistory Building at Streeling. Generally Wanda spent the bulk of her time in her office, working with her Prime Radiant. She found solace in its precise statistical elegance; the unvarying equations were somehow reassuring in this Empire gone so crazy. But when thoughts of her beloved father, mother, and baby sister became too much to bear, when even her research could not keep her mind off the horrible losses she’d so recently undergone, Wanda invariably found herself out here, scratching at the terraformed ground, as if coaxing a few plants to life might somehow, in some tiny measure, ameliorate her pain. Since her father’s death a month ago and the disappearance of Manella and Bellis, Wanda, who had always been slim, had been losing weight. Whereas a few months ago Hari Seldon would have been concerned over his darling granddaughter’s loss of appetite, now he, stuck in his own grief, seemed not to notice. A profound change had come over Hari and Wanda Seldon-and the few remaining members of the Psychohistory Project. Hari seemed to have given up. He now spent most of his days sitting in an armchair in the Streeling solarium, staring out at the University grounds, warmed by the bright bulbs overhead. Occasionally Project members told Wanda that his bodyguard, a man named Stettin Palver, would badger Seldon into a walk out under the dome or try to engage him in a discussion of the future direction of the Project. Wanda retreated deeper into her study of the Prime Radiant’s fascinating equations. She could feel the future her grandfather had worked so hard to achieve finally taking shape, and he was right: The Encyclopedists must be established on Terminus; they would be the Foundation. And Section 33A2D17-in it Wanda could see what Seldon referred to as the Second, or secret, Foundation. But how? Without Seldon’s active interest, Wanda was at a loss as to how to proceed. And her sorrow over the destruction of her family cut so deep that she didn’t seem to have the strength to figure it out. The members of the Project itself, those fifty or so hardy souls who remained, continued their work as well as possible. The majority were Encyclopedists, researching the source materials they would need to copy and catalogue for their eventual move to Terminus-when and if they gained full access to the Galactic Library. At this point, they were working on faith alone. Professor Seldon had lost his private office at the Library, so the prospects of any other Project member gaining special access were slim. The remaining Project members (other than the Encyclopedists) were historical analysts and mathematicians. The historians interpreted past and current human actions and events, turning their findings over to the mathematicians, who in turn fit those pieces into the great Psychohistorical Equation. It was long painstaking work. Many Project members had left because the rewards were so few-psychohistorians were the butt of many jokes on Trantor and limited funds had forced Seldon to enact drastic pay cuts. But the constant reassuring presence of Hari Seldon had-till now-overcome the difficult working conditions of the Project. Indeed, the Project members who had stayed on had, to a person, done so out of respect and devotion to Professor Seldon. Now, thought Wanda Seldon bitterly, what reason is left for them to stay? A light breeze blew a piece of her blond hair across her eyes; she pushed it back absentmindedly and continued her weeding. â€Å"Miss Seldon, may I have a moment of your time?† Wanda turned and looked up. A young man-she judged him to be in his early twenties-stood on the gravel path next to her. She immediately sensed him to be strong and fearsomely intelligent. Her grandfather had chosen wisely. Wanda rose to speak with him. â€Å"I recognize you. You are my grandfather’s bodyguard, are you not? Stettin Palver, I believe?† â€Å"Yes, that’s correct, Miss Seldon,† Palver said and his cheeks reddened slightly, as if he were pleased that so pretty a girl should have given him any notice. â€Å"Miss Seldon, it is your grandfather I’d like to talk to you about. I’m very worried about him. We must do something.† â€Å"Do what, Mr. Palver? I am at a loss. Since my father†-she swallowed hard, as if she were having difficulty speaking-â€Å"died and my mother and sister disappeared, it is all I can do to get him out of bed in the morning. And to tell you the truth, it has affected me very deeply as well. You understand, don’t you?† She looked into his eyes and knew that he did. â€Å"Miss Seldon,† Palver said softly, â€Å"I am terribly sorry about your losses. But you and Professor Seldon are alive and you must keep working at psychohistory. The professor seems to have given up. I was hoping that maybe you-we-could come up with something to give him hope again. You know, a reason to go on.† Ah, Mr. Palver, thought Wanda, maybe Grandpa has it right. I wonder if there truly is any reason to go on. But she said, â€Å"I’m sorry, Mr. Palver, I can think of nothing.† She gestured toward the ground with her hoe. â€Å"And now, as you can see, I must get back to these pesky weeds.† â€Å"I don’t think your grandfather has got it right. I think there truly is a reason to go on. We just have to find it.† The words struck her with full force. How had he known what she had been thinking? Unless-â€Å"You can handle minds, can’t you?† Wanda asked, holding her breath, as if afraid to hear Palver’s response. â€Å"Yes, I can,† the young man replied. â€Å"I always have, I think. At least, I can’t remember not doing it. Half the time I’m not even consciously aware of it-I just know what people are thinking-or have thought. â€Å"Sometimes,† he continued, encouraged by the understanding he felt emanating from Wanda, â€Å"I get flashes of it coming from someone else. It’s always in a crowd, though, and I can’t locate whoever it is. But I know there are others like me-us-around.† Wanda grabbed Palver’s hand excitedly, her gardening tool tossed to the ground, forgotten. â€Å"Have you any idea what this might mean? For Grandpa, for psychohistory? One of us alone can do only so much, but both of us together-† Wanda started walking into the Psychohistory Building, leaving Palver standing on the gravel path. Almost to the entrance she stopped and turned. Come, Mr. Palver, we must tell my grandfather, Wanda said without opening her mouth. Yes, I suppose we should, answered Palver as he joined her. 31 â€Å"Do you mean to say I have been searching Trantor-wide for someone with your powers, Wanda, and he’s been here with us for the past few months and we never knew it?† Hari Seldon was incredulous. He had been dozing in the solarium when Wanda and Palver shook him awake to give him their amazing news. â€Å"Yes, Grandpa. Think about it. I’ve never had occasion to meet Stettin. Your time with him has primarily been away from the Project and I spend the majority of my time closeted in my office, working with the Prime Radiant. When would we have met? In fact, the one time our paths did cross, the results were most significant.† â€Å"When was that?† asked Seldon, searching his memory. â€Å"Your last hearing-before Judge Lih,† Wanda replied immediately. â€Å"Remember the eyewitness who swore that you and Stettin had attacked those three muggers? Remember how he broke down and told the truth-and even he didn’t seem to know why. But Stettin and I have pieced it together. We were both pushing Rial Nevas to come clean. He had been very steadfast in his original claim; I doubt that either one of us would have been able to push him alone. But together†-she stole a shy glance at Palver, who was standing off to the side-â€Å"our power is awesome!† Hari Seldon took all this in and then made as if to speak. But Wanda continued. â€Å"In fact, we plan to spend the afternoon testing our mentalic abilities, separately and together. From the little we’ve discovered so far, it seems as if Stettin’s power is slightly lower than mine-perhaps a five on my rating scale. But his five, combined with my seven, gives us a twelve! Think of it, Grandpa. Awesome!† â€Å"Don’t you see, Professor?† Palver spoke up. â€Å"Wanda and I are that breakthrough you’re looking for. We can help you convince the worlds of the validity of psychohistory, we can help find others like us, we can help put psychohistory back on track.† Hari Seldon gazed up at the two young people standing in front of him. Their faces were aglow with youth and vigor and enthusiasm and he realized it did his old heart good. Perhaps all was not lost, after all. He had not thought he would survive this latest tragedy, the death of his son and the disappearance of his son’s wife and child, but now he could see that Raych lived on in Wanda. And in Wanda and Stettin, he now knew, lived the future of the Foundation. â€Å"Yes, yes,† agreed Seldon nodding forcefully. â€Å"Come you two, help me up. I must get back to my office to plan our next step.† How to cite Forward the Foundation Chapter 28, Essay examples