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5 Digital Publishing Questions for Seth Godin
5 Digital Publishing Questions for Seth Godin 5 Digital Publishing Questions for Seth Godin Today we talk with Seth Godin,Ã American ...
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
The impact of misrepresentation, mistake, duress and undue influence on the validity of a contract The WritePass Journal
The impact of misrepresentation, mistake, duress and undue influence on the validity of a contract The impact of misrepresentation, mistake, duress and undue influence on the validity of a contract ) ââ¬ËChandler v Cape plc: Is there a chink in the corporate veil?ââ¬â¢, Health and Safety at Work Newsletter, vol 18, no 3. Gulati, B., (2011) Intention to Create Legal Relations: A Contractual Relationship Necessity ot an Illusory Concept, Beijing Law Review 2, Scientific Research. French, D. (2011) Company Law, 28th Edition, OUP Oxford. Hopt, K. L. (2001) ââ¬ËCompany Groups in Transition Economies: A Case for Regulatory Intervention?ââ¬â¢, European Business Organisation Law Review, vol. 2, no. 1. McKendrick, E., (2011) Contract Law. Palgrave MacMillan. 9th Edition. Poole, J., (2006). Casebook on Contract Law, 8th Edition, OUP Oxford. Saha, T. K., (2010) Textbook on Legal Methods, Legal Systems Research, Universal Law Publishing. Smith, S. A., (1997) Contracting Under Pressure: A Theory of Duress, 56 Cambridge Law Journal 2. Talbot, L. (2007) Critical Company Law, Routledge. Walden-Smith, K., (2005) Protecting the Vulnerable ââ¬â The Court of Appealââ¬â¢s Decision in Macklin v Dowsett, Stone Buildings News, Available [Online] at: 5sblaw.com/images/file/5SB_Newsletter_4.pdf Watcher, V. V. (2007) The Corporate Veil, New Law Journal, vol. 990, no. 7218. Wildman, E., (2009) Setting aside a contract for mistake, The In-House Lawyer, Available online at: inhouselawyer.co.uk/index.php/contract/6101-setting-aside-a-contract-for-a-mistake //
Friday, November 22, 2019
Thom Mayne, Short Bio of an American Pritzker Winner
Thom Mayne, Short Bio of an American Pritzker Winner Thom Mayne has been called many things, from an uncompromising rebel to just plain difficult. Hes also been an academic, mentor, and prize-winning architect for many decades. Most importantly, Maynes legacy includes solving urban problems through connections and viewing architecture as a continuous process rather than a static form. Background: Born: January 19, 1944, Waterbury, Connecticut Education and Professional Training: 1968: Bachelor of Architecture, University of Southern California1978: Master of Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design Professional: 1968-1970: Planner for Victor Gruen1972: Founder Morphosis, Culver City, California1972: Co-founder Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), Santa Monica, California Selected Buildings: 1978: 2-4-6-8 House, Venice, California1983: 72 Market Street Restaurant, Venice, CA (1986 AIA Merit Award)1986: Kate Mantilini Restaurant, Beverly Hills, CA1988: Cedar Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA1990: The Crawford Residence, Montecito, CA1991: Salick Health Care Office Building, Los Angeles, CA (1992 AIA Honor Award)1990: MTV Studios, Los Angeles, CA1995: The Blades Residence, Santa Barbara, CA1997: Sun Tower, Seoul, South Korea1999: Diamond Ranch High School, Pomona, California2002: Hypo Alpe-Adria Center, Austria2005: Caltrans District 7 Headquarters, Los Angeles, CA2006: Wayne L. Morse United States Courthouse, Oregon2007: U.S. Federal Building, San Francisco, CA2009: Float House, Make it Right Foundation2009: Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, 41 Cooper Square, NYC2013: Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Dallas, Texas2014: Gates Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York2014: Emerson Los Angeles (ELA), Hollywood, CA2016: Hanking Center T ower, Shenzhen, China 2017: Bloomberg Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York Other Designs: 1981: Vietnam War Memorial Competition1990: Osaka Expo 90 Folly, Japan2000: New York Times Magazine Time Capsule competition2003: Silent Collisions, Belgium Awards: 1987: Rome Prize, American Academy of Design in Rome1992: Brunner Prize Award in Architecture, American Academy of Arts and Letters2004: Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA)2005: Pritzker Prize2009: President Obamas Commission on Arts and Humanities2013: AIA Gold Medal Thom Mayne In His Own Words: I have absolutely no interest in producing a building that just accommodates X, Y and Z function.- 2005, TED But basically, what we do is, we try to give coherence to the world. We make physical things, buildings that become a part in an accretional process; they make cities. And those things are the reflection of the processes, and the time that they are made. And what Im doing is attempting to synthesize the way one sees the world and the territories which are useful as generative material.- 2005, TED ...the idea that architecture is defined as single buildings- of whatever size- that can be plugged into a comprehensible, planned urban matrix is no longer adequate to address the needs of people adapting to a highly mobile and ever-changing urban society.- 2011, Combinatory Urbanism, p. 9 I have no interest at all in conceiving something in my brain and saying, This is what it looks like....Architecture is the beginning of something, because its- if youre not involved in first principles, if youre not involved in the absolute, the beginning of that generative process, its cake decoration....its not what Im interested in doing. And so, in the formation of things, in giving it form, in concretizing these things, it starts with some notion of how one organizes.- 2005, TED The practice of architecture, which has traditionally been aligned with permanence and stability, must change to accommodate and take advantage of the rapid changes and increased complexities of contemporary reality....combinatory urbanism engages the premise of continuous process over static form....- 2011, Combinatory Urbanism, p. 29 No matter what Ive done, what Ive tried to do, everybody says it cant be done. And its continuous across the complete spectrum of the various kind of realities that you confront with your ideas. And to be an architect, somehow you have to negotiate between left and right, and you have to negotiate between this very private place where ideas take place and the outside world, and then make it understood.- 2005, TED If you want to survive, youre going to have to change. If you dont change, youre going to perish. Simple as that.- 2005, AIA National Convention (PDF) What Others Say About Mayne: Thom Mayne has been, throughout his career, regarded as a rebel. Even today, after his recognized success as an architect of major building projects, requiring the management of a large office- Morphosis- and a world-wide practice, terms like maverick and bad boy and difficult to work with still cling to his reputation. Part of this is the attraction of the popular press, where he appears frequently, to anything racy and even slightly scandalous. Part of it is a sign of respect- we want our American heroes to be tough and independent, having their own ideals, charting their own paths. Part of it is, in Maynes case, simply true.- Lebbeus Woods (1940-2012), architect Maynes approach toward architecture and his philosophy is not derived from European modernism, Asian influences, or even from American precedents of the last century. He has sought throughout his career to create an original architecture, one that is truly representative of the unique, somewhat rootless, culture of Southern California, especially the architecturally rich city of Los Angeles. Like the Eameses, Neutra, Schindler, and Gehry before him, Thom Mayne is an authentic addition to the tradition of innovative, exciting architectural talent that flourishes on the West Coast.- Pritzker Architecture Prize Jury Citation Maynes architecture does not rebel against conventions so much as it absorbs and transforms them and moves on in a direction that demonstrates how buildings and the spaces they provide, both within and without, can engage the unpredictable yet highly tangible dynamics of the present. He accepts the conventional typologies- bank, high school, courthouse, office building- of the programs his clients hand to him, with a generosity that speaks of his respect for the needs of others, even those with whom he shares little in the way of outlook and sensibility.- Lebbeus Woods Sources: Whos Who in America 2012, 66th edition, vol. 2, Marquis Whos Who à ©2011, p. 2903; Biography, An Essay on Thom Mayne By Lebbeus Woods, and Jury Citation, à © The Hyatt Foundation, pritzkerprize.com; Thom Mayne on architecture as connection, TED Talk Filmed February 2005 [accessed June 13, 2013]; Combinatory Urbanism, Selected Introductory Material the New Orleans Urban Redevelopment chapter (PDF), 2011 [accessed June 16, 2013] Learn More: Combinatory Urbanism: The Complex Behavior of Collective Form by Thom Mayne, 2011Thom Mayne: U.S. Federal Office Building, San Francisco, Tom Piper and Charles Gansa, Directors, Landmarks in 21st Century American Architecture Series, Checkerboard Film Foundation, 2008 (DVD)Morphosis: Buildings and Projects
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Essay to be edited Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
To be edited - Essay Example That is why this was the subject that I had taken the most notes. The particular guest on this topic began by talking about the starting point of the Arab spring: Tunisia. He believed that the actions of the Tunisian people came from the poor economic conditions in the country at that time. This was a point that I could really agree on because it matched my own personal views. In addition, the speaker explained about the root cause of the political problems in Tunisiaââ¬âthe election trouble from the 2005 election. After that time, the political pressure increased slowly. The next topic was about what had happened in Egypt. The speaker commented that what made people really organized was social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter. In addition, blogs provided an outlet where people could discuss their troubles and organize the protest against the government. Their motivation came from the poor economic conditions in conjunction with the political uncertainty, which was similar to what had happened in Tunisia. However, he also mentioned a really important point about Islamic organizations. He made the point that many Islamic organizations in Egypt were really concerned about the street protests that took place. In my own view, this is true because, as we know after the government of Hosni Mubarak, the Islamic Brotherhood won the election! This explains why they were so concerned about the protests. Lastly, he mentioned that the Arab Spring movement has had a huge effect on Arab
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Would a World without Nuclear Weapons be more or less secure Essay
Would a World without Nuclear Weapons be more or less secure - Essay Example Every other day, we listen to different kinds of debates related to nuclear technology and weapons present with different nations around the world. These debates are for and against the nuclear weapons but this fact cannot be denied that a world without nuclear weapons would be more secure as people will not have an option for massive destruction. Chernobyl incident, Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear attack and Japanââ¬â¢s Fukushima nuclear radiations are the worst lessons which nuclear weapons and energy have taught humankind. Nations must endeavour to use nuclear energy for power generation for meeting the rising energy needs. We cannot say that without nuclear weapons, there would be no fight on this earth but massive massacre can be controlled by putting a check on nuclear weapons and eradicating them altogether from the face of the earth to save humanity. Nuclear weapons can kill not hundreds but thousands and millions of people residing in any country and belonging to any natio n within no time and this capability of the weapons makes them extensively vicious and fatal. In the Second World War, United States attacked Hiroshima and Nagasaki, two cities of Japan with nuclear bombs and its residents are still bearing the consequences of that damaging occurrence. The cities got destructed wholly and this happening cannot be forgotten as it informed about the destructiveness through nuclear weapons (Weart 58). Nuclear technologyââ¬â¢s negative usage started from Second World War and at this juncture, many states have nuclear power and can use it when they feel a need. These cities are still suffering from the radiations of nuclear attacks that took place almost half a century ago. After effects of such disasters are long lasting and nations suffer for a prolonged period. People around the world agree that nuclear weapons are disadvantageous for the masses. Perkovich & Acton (2009) inform, ââ¬Å"States possess nuclear weapons because they fear they might fac e threats of massive destruction. If they all get rid of nuclear weapons, major warfare might not break out immediately, but the chances of such conflict coming about would rise dramatically.â⬠this tendency have speed up the race to acquire nuclear weapons for creating a deterrence in the world. This has given value to get nuclear weapon and indulged nations in arm race. (p. 21). The nuclear states around the world feel that a unilateral disarmament must be there to eradicate all the nuclear weapons altogether but this step is quite difficult to take for the countries and their governments, as unilateral disarmament is not accepted by all the countries. Separate disarmament is also a difficult step to be taken by the governments having the nuclear capability because they consider that disarmament will allow other States to attack them. Nuclear states have doubts of outside attack due to which, they do not want to get rid of their nuclear weaponry power. US and Russia have agree d to take measures to reduce the number of nuclear weapons. This step will help the great powers to avoid falling of such lethal weapons in the hands of terrorist organizations (Drell & Goodby 25). Third world countries must be encouraged to dismantle the nuclear facilities and resolve the core issues through peaceful negotiations. Big nations must take first step to save future of world. Russia and America will soon sign strategic arms reduction treaty (START). This treaty would decrease the number of deployed warheads of both the countries from 2200 to 1500. Still both countries will maintain large stocks of short-range nuclear weapons. Both countries still need to negotiate to cut down the stock of 500 warheads each (Eland 2010). With these 500
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Generational Welfare Essay Example for Free
Generational Welfare Essay Generational Welfare For most of Americaââ¬â¢s history, farmers, entrepreneurs or shop owners could live their entire lives without getting any assistance from the federal government except maybe mail. But those days are long gone. In 2012 the total number of Americans on government assistance or welfare reached 4,3000,000. Many of which are 4th or 5th generation Welfare recipients. For whatever the reason, we have become a culture of dependency in which poverty is a trap. Long-term recipients loose job skills, work habits as well as work contacts. For this reason the government should require recipients to work as much as they can. It could be called ââ¬Å"workfareâ⬠and could help recipients increase potential long-term earnings. Generation poverty is defined as children of parents in poverty grow up to live in poverty themselves in a continuous cycle for at least two generations. All too often this is a result of a traumatic event-taking place such as a illness or divorce that alters the family structure Hard working, self-reliant men and women built this country, but these work ethics began to change during the great depression in the 1930ââ¬â¢s. A federal welfare program was introduced, it granted monthly cash and food coupons to assist with basic living needs, it was established to assist those who were living below the poverty line. This system went virtually unchanged since 1930, and was due for a much-needed reform. In 1996 President Bill Clinton made great strides to give welfare a long overdue facelift. He gave the duties of welfare to the states by implementing the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. This act restricted aid to most legal residents. The bill had a 5year lifetime maximum for cash assistance and, required recipients to search for employment among other requirements. This welfare reform law was very successful. More than 60% percent of recipients were able to get off the welfare program. However, the core of this program was done away with in 2012 by the Obama administration. A directive was issued stating that TANF (Temporary assistance for needy Families) work requirements could be waived or over ridden by section 1115 waiver authority under the Social Security law. This has fueled an ongoing debate over whether welfare dependency in one generation causes welfare dependency in the next generation. Psychologist, Albert Bandura is considered the pioneerà behind the Social Learning Theory. This theory states that people learn from their so cial contexts and much of social behavior is learned through observing and practiced through modeling. This observational learning can occur in three ways: live modeling, symbolic learning and instruction. This explains the cycle of generational welfare among our nations poor. Last year the Wall Street Journal reported that 49% of the population of the United States lives in a household where at least one person receives some type of government assistance. The Heritage Foundationââ¬â¢s annual Index of Dependence on Government, tracks government spending, and the score is adjusted for federal programs that contribute to government assistance dependency. In 2010 the foundation reported that nearly 67.3 million Americans received Social Security, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, educational support for higher learning, or some other assistance that was once considered to be the responsibility of families, individuals, churches, and neighborhoods. A culture has developed within families in which welfare is reinforced and sometimes even encouraged by parents who are also receiving benefits and their children. Children also become more accepting of the idea of assistance because their parents are currently receiving welfare benefits. The goal of public policy should be reducing poverty, not just the reduction of caseloads. The plan that was implemented by former President Clinton did just that. Jobs have to be created and av ailable before we can reduce the number of persons receiving government assistance. More often than not, when jobs are created they are low-skill jobs and do not pay enough to meet employees basic needs which results in many quitting and going back on government aid. We need more programs set up to provide training in work skills or a trade so that citizens will be able to receive wages that will easily sustain their families and encourage them to become self sufficient and non dependent on government assistance. It gives great satisfaction for a person to know that they are completely self-sufficient and can provide their family with at least its basic needs. It gives a sense of purpose and builds self-confidence that you do not have when you have to rely on the government or another person for financial help. It requires decision, determination, and discipline. Some may argue that generational poverty is determined by poor health across generations and not by observation or modeling of ones parents. However the statisticsà from the changes made during the Clinton administration, give proof that the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, that works and should be reinstated. Most citizens have a desire to be successful but just donââ¬â¢t have the skills or self-esteem they need to accomplish these goals. Sometimes it takes a little push to get them headed in the right direction and this program seems to do just that. It provided nearly any means of assistance for individuals to become job ready. It provided assistance with transportation problems; self-esteem issues like dental work or even haircuts. Individuals were coached in interview skills and good work ethics. Many classes were provided to help assist in lifestyle and finance management changes. Individuals were encouraged to further their education and were given assistance with college enrollment applications as well. All of the qualities that are needed to preform a job to the fullest of ones ability were provided to wean recipients off of welfare. We have to reach the core understanding of why some people get stuck in a cycle of generational poverty and work on the core problem if we want long-term results. In which individuals receive jobs, perform their duties to the best of their ability and take pride in being self-sufficient. When individuals are proud of their accomplishments and are confident that they will be able to provide for themselves and their family, then we will begin to see a decline in numbers of generational welfare recipients and will be able to witness our economy grow and flourish. Works Cited Axelrod, Norman. Chicago Tribune: Chicago Breaking News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Weather and Traffic Chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune: Chicago Breaking News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Weather and Traffic Chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2011. Web. 01 Aug. 2013. . Bowen, Barry D. 1996 Welfare Reform Facts. 1996 Welfare Reform Facts. N.p., 1996. Web. 01 Aug. 2013. . Gaiser, Elliot T. Obama Guts Welfare Reform. Heritage.org. N.p., 8 May 2013. Web. McLeod, Saul. Bandura Social Learning Theory. Albert Bandura. Simply Psychology, 2011. Web. 01 Aug. 2013. . Generational Welfare For most of Americaââ¬â¢s history, farmers, entrepreneurs or shop owners could live their entire lives without getting any assistance from the federal government except maybe mail. But those days are long gone. In 2012 the total number of Americans on government assistance or welfare reached 4,3000,000. Many of which are 4th or 5th generation Welfare recipients. For whatever the reason, we have become a culture of dependency in which poverty is a trap. Long-term recipients loose job skills, work habits as well as work contacts. For this reason the government should require recipients to work as much as they can. It could be called ââ¬Å"workfareâ⬠and could help recipients increase potential long-term earnings. Generation poverty is defined as children of parents in poverty grow up to live in poverty themselves in a continuous cycle for at least two generations. All too often this is a result of a traumatic event-taking place such as a illness or divorce that alters the fami ly structure Hard working, self-reliant men and women built this country, but these work ethics began to change during the great depression in the 1930ââ¬â¢s. A federal welfare program was introduced, it granted monthly cash and food coupons to assist with basic living needs, it was established to assist those who were living below the poverty line. This system went virtually unchanged since 1930, and was due for a much-needed reform. In 1996 President Bill Clinton made great strides to give welfare a long overdue facelift. He gave the duties of welfare to the states by implementing the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. This act restricted aid to most legal residents. The bill had a 5year lifetime maximum for cash assistance and, required recipients to search for employment among other requirements. This welfare reform law was very successful. More than 60% percent of recipients were able to get off the welfare program. However, the core of this program was done away with in 2012 by the Obama administration. A directive was issued stating that TANF (Temporary assistance for needy Families) work requirements could be waived or over ridden by section 1115 waiver authority under the Social Security law. This has fueled an ongoing debate over whether welfare dependency in one generation causes welfare dependency in the next generation. Psychologist, Albert Bandura is considered the pioneerà behind the Social Learning Theory. This theory states that people learn from their social contexts and much of social behavior is learned through observing and practiced through modeling. This observational learning can occur in three ways: live modeling, symbolic learning and instruction. This explains the cycle of generational welfare among our nations poor. Last year the Wall Street Journal reported that 49% of the population of the United States lives in a household where at least one person receives some type of government assistance. The Heritage Foundationââ¬â¢s annual Index of Dependence on Government, tracks government spending, and the score is adjusted for federal programs that contribute to government assistance dependency. In 2010 the foundation reported that nearly 67.3 million Americans received Social Security, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, educational support for higher learning, or some other assistance that was once considered to be the responsibility of families, individuals, ch urches, and neighborhoods. A culture has developed within families in which welfare is reinforced and sometimes even encouraged by parents who are also receiving benefits and their children. Children also become more accepting of the idea of assistance because their parents are currently receiving welfare benefits. The goal of public policy should be reducing poverty, not just the reduction of caseloads. The plan that was implemented by former President Clinton did just that. Jobs have to be created and available before we can reduce the number of persons receiving government assistance. More often than not, when jobs are created they are low-skill jobs and do not pay enough to meet employees basic needs which results in many quitting and going back on government aid. We need more programs set up to provide training in work skills or a trade so that citizens will be able to receive wages that will easily sustain their families and encourage them to become self sufficient and non dependent on government assistance. It gives great satisfaction for a person to know that they are completely self-sufficient and can provide their family with at least its basic needs. It gives a sense of purpose and builds self-confidence that you do not have when you have to rely on the government or another person for financial help. It requires decision, determination, and discipline. Some may argue that generational poverty is determined by poor health across generations and not by observation or modeling of ones parents. However the statisticsà from the changes made during the Clinton administration, give proof that the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, that works and should be reinstated. Most citizens have a desire to be successful but just donââ¬â¢t have the skills or self-esteem they need to accomplish these goals. Sometimes it takes a little push to get them headed in the right direction and this program seems to do just that. It provided nearly any means of assistance for individuals to become job ready. It provided assistance with transportation problems; self-esteem issues like dental work or even haircuts. Individuals were coached in interview skills and good work ethics. Many classes were provided to help assist in lifestyle and finance management changes. Individuals were encouraged to further their education and were given assistance with college enrollment applications as well. All of the qualities that are needed to preform a job to the fullest of one s ability were provided to wean recipients off of welfare. We have to reach the core understanding of why some people get stuck in a cycle of generational poverty and work on the core problem if we want long-term results. In which individuals receive jobs, perform their duties to the best of their ability and take pride in being self-sufficient. When individuals are proud of their accomplishments and are confident that they will be able to provide for themselves and their family, then we will begin to see a decline in numbers of generational welfare recipients and will be able to witness our economy grow and flourish.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Siddhartha :: essays research papers
Siddhartha was a young boy living in the wealthy part of India with his parents. His father, a rich and powerful priest taught him how to read people. At an early stage in his life Siiddhartha could understand people and could hold conversations with the best of even the elders. He was a very impressionable young fellow, and also was very handsome. Siddhartha was supposed to take after is father and be a Brahmin, He too was to become rich and powerful. By the time Siddhartha was a teenage boy he had already made up his mind that he had learned everything he could learn from elders and his teacher. He needed to find other ways that would help him find what he is looking for. Siddhartha hear the preaching of many priest. He developed this thirst for more knowledge, he seem to be a ââ¬Å"vessel that was not fullâ⬠PG 3 Siddhartha discovered that with all the teachings he learned from others just did not quench his thirst for knowledge. He was not happy and needed to go out into the world to find out who he really is. Siddhartha told his father he wanted to go wandering, seeking knowledge, and he wanted to take no possessions with him. He wanted to become a Samana, (a nomad). His father disagreed with him, and Siddhartha threw a tantrum. He protested his fatherââ¬â¢s disagreement by standing by a window all night long. His father eventually gives into Siddharthaââ¬â¢s wishes and agreed to let him go. His father says to him ââ¬Å"if you find salvation in the forest, you should come back and teach meâ⬠. Pg 7 So Siddhartha set out on his quest for knowledge, his friend Govinda accompanied him. This remains me of when I was young, the age when I thought I knew everything. I got my first apartment, which made me feel like an adult woman, and I felt as if I knew it all. My mother was not happy about this and she voiced her disapproval. Like Siddhartha, I also threw a tantrum and was very rebellious. I locked myself in the bathroom hoping this would change my mothersââ¬â¢ mind, it did not, and she still disagreed. However, after sometime she finally gives in and approves of me moving into my own place. This was know as cutting the apron string. Siddhartha was still young and was soon on his way to discover the world.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Can Lord of the Flies be Classified as a Fable? Essay
A fable, by strict definition, is a short tale conveying a clear moral lesson in which the characters are animals acting like human beings. A fable is intended to provide moral instruction and its characters and scenes are drawn to suit this purpose. William Golding has referred to his novel, Lord of the Flies, as a fable. This essay will demonstrate that in the moral lessons it offers us and in the symbolic nature of its setting, characters and literary devices, the novel functions as a fable for the inherent tendency in man to revert to primal savagery once he is removed from civilization. We are left with the caution that evil must be acknowledged and consciously opposed. The novelââ¬â¢s status as a fable is demonstrated strongly through the moral lesson it presents to his responders. Goldingââ¬â¢s message is dark one, emphasizing the bleaker aspects of human nature. Rejecting the conventional, romantic notions that man ââ¬Ëis basically nobleââ¬â¢, Golding insists that evil is inherent in man. Indeed, Golding would say that the central idea behind the Lord of the Flies is that man is fallen from grace. He would go on to state that once the faà §ade of civilization is stripped away, man is fundamentally motivated in his behaviour by primal and brutal instincts. Evil is a force which is instinctive in man, which must be recognized and controlled. Goldingââ¬â¢s message for the inherent tendency in man to revert to primal savagery once he is removed from civilization is presented through the boyââ¬â¢s gradual loss of order and descent into savagery. When the boys conduct their first meeting on the island they establish rules and methods of proper conduct. Ralph is elected by the boys as Chief and a democratic ââ¬Ëpoliticalââ¬â¢ system is established. The boys are excited at the prospect of rules and meetings, even Jack ironically states, ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, weââ¬â¢re not savages. Weââ¬â¢re English; and the English are best at everything. So weââ¬â¢ve got to do things rightâ⬠. However, later on in the book, when Jack deserts Ralph to form his own tribe he declares, ââ¬Å"Bollocks to the rules!â⬠and assures the boys that their tribe will not be based on rules-instead they shall have ââ¬Ëfunââ¬â¢, hunting and feasting. The call of the conch is disregarded and autocratic system of governing commences. This new warrior cult establishes fortifications, political feuds, wars and methodsà of torture. The loss of order and descent into savagery is further presented through the boyââ¬â¢s progression from vegetarianism to carnivorous hunting. When the boys first arrive on the island they are content to eat the ripe fruit available to them, however as the book progresses their lust for blood and meat becomes more and more evident. Jackââ¬â¢s first attempt to kill a pig ends unsuccessfully, but he claims that next time there will be no mercy. Ralph however realizes the truth of his hesitation, that he is still faintly attached to the civilized life he once lived and because ââ¬Å"of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh; because of the unbearable blood.â⬠Jackââ¬â¢s first kill is significant in the stories plot, as it a revelation of his own darker side and shows the extent to which his primal instincts and bloodthirstiness have taken over him. As the boys establish the technology of hunting, their kills become more violent and eventually they begin to turn their bloodthirstiness on each other. Barbaric chants such as, ââ¬Å"Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in!â⬠develop, as do savage dances that often end in the hurt of one of their peers. It is these rituals that eventually end in the death of Simon. The boyââ¬â¢s loss of order and descent into savagery is further shown through their worship of the Beast. Jack proposes that ââ¬Å"when we kill weââ¬â¢ll leave some of the kill for itâ⬠, in order to keep the threat of the Beast at bay This conduct is similar to ancient, primal rituals where offerings and sacrifices would be left in order to please the gods. The boys have invented their own primitive religion which is a crude form of totemism and their worship is of blood and ultimately, the devil. Overall, like a fable, Lord of the Flies enforces a very strong message. Humans as a race have a tendency to revert to their primal, savage instincts and in doing so reveal their true sadistic and evil nature that lies within. This moral message is expressed in several ways by the author, however especially through the boys gradual loss of order, their blood lust and their worship of the devil. The novelââ¬â¢s symbolic nature further enhances the books status as a fable. Theà disintegration of civilization is charted through the use of symbols, one of the major tools of the fabulist. Almost every detail in the novel has a meaning of its own and a representational meaning in terms of the theme and the development of evil on the island. The setting of the novel is particularly symbolic. The island functions as a microcosm of the wider world and parallels our society in competitiveness, destructiveness and violence. The island is a perfect place in which Golding can test his theories, as being isolated it lacks society and societal laws and rules, allowing the boys to run wild and show their true inner selves. However, the presence of the wider world is never forgotten, as there are constant mentions to the war occurring outside the island. References such as the boyââ¬â¢s evacuation, the crashing of the plane and the pod, the dogfight over the island at night and the arrival of the naval officer on the beach and his warship, show the corruption of what is happening in the real world. The island starts off as a paradise with ââ¬Å"food and drink and-rocks-blue flowersâ⬠and in many ways is similar to the Garden of Eden in biblical stories. The book corresponds to this biblical story further, in that man is given a chance of Paradise but destroys it, which shows mans potential for evil. Indeed, at the end of the book the entire island is set alight. The ââ¬Å"roughly boat shapedâ⬠layout of the island is symbolic in itself, the boat being an ancient symbol of civilization. The water current flowing backwards around the island is also meaningful, as it leaves the impression that civilization may be going backwards for the island and its inhabitants. The disintegration of civilization in the novel is demonstrated particularly in the symbolic nature of the characters. Described as a ââ¬Å"skinny, vivid little boy, with a glance coming up from under a hut of straight hair that hung down, black and coarse,â⬠Simon represents the highest aspirations of the human spirit towards beauty and holiness and can be interpreted as a Christ figure. His name, which comes from the Hebrew word ââ¬Ëlistenerââ¬â¢, further enhances his spiritual role, as it is also the name of one of Jesusââ¬â¢ apostles Simon Peter. Simon participates in an important symbolic dialogue with ââ¬ËBeelzebubââ¬â¢, who represents the lowest part of man, the source of violence, hatred, fear and murder. The meeting represents the recognition ofà these forces in all men, even the saintly. Like Christ, Simon brought a radical new message to those around him; however instead of heeding this message, his peers took him and killed him. Jack is another symbolic character in the story, however in contrast to Simon, he represents savagery and anarchy. Originally a prefect, Jack rediscovers in himself the instinct and compulsions of the hunter that lie buried in every man. From the beginning he is surrounded by symbolism. For example the fact that ââ¬Å"his hair was redâ⬠connects him immediately to connotations often associated with the devil and his name means ââ¬Ëone who supplantsââ¬â¢. Throughout the novel, Jack is a significant figure for evil and destruction and hungers for leadership positions. Jack disregards order and it is through him that the responder sees the innate evil of man, since he was the one cast off from society the earliest. Ralph is another central character to the novel and is the embodiment of democracy. Ralph is a likeable character from the start; strong, handsome and comes from high British society. It is Ralph who establishes the use of the conch at assemblies, using it to carry out fundamental principles of democracy; ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll give the conch to the next person to speakâ⬠¦And he wonââ¬â¢t be interruptedâ⬠. Ralph, whose name in the Anglo-Saxon Language means ââ¬Ëcounselââ¬â¢, is fair, rational and understanding, as is democracy. It is through Ralph that the responder sees the degradation of society on the island, and thereby shows them the innate evil within man. This is particularly evident when ââ¬Å"Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of manââ¬â¢s heart.â⬠The symbolic literary devices Golding uses also enforce this novelââ¬â¢s genre as a fable. The evolution of the conch as a symbol reflects the boyââ¬â¢s gradual loss of civilization and all its fragility, beauty and innocence. In the beginning of the novel, the conch is regarded as a toy, beautifully coloured and ââ¬Å"ever so valuableâ⬠. However, when the boys discover the true power of its voice it is used to summon meetings. As the book progresses, it becomes to be the centre of order and organization and is instrumental in creating order. It develops into a symbol of civilization, common sense andà discipline. The fact that it is beautiful, powerful and fragile gives us an idea of how we should view civilization itself, especially later when the primal forces of evil and disorder are breaking down its influence over the boys. As the story progresses the shell summons the boys and pulls them into order from even the wilds of the island. However, as the boys descend into brutality they grow impatient with the order the conch represents, disregarding the power it bestows on the holder to speak at meetings. This is evident at Jackââ¬â¢s feast when Ralph threatens, ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll blow the conchâ⬠¦and call an assemblyâ⬠and Jack refutes, ââ¬Å"We shanââ¬â¢t hear it.â⬠The conchââ¬â¢s destruction towards the end of the novel destroys once and for all the boys own sense of beauty, fragile innocence, order and civilization. The title Lord of the Flies is symbolic in itself; a reference to who the boys are submitting to as they give in to savagery. It is a translation of the Hebrew name Beelzebub, the devil beneath Satan himself. This title suggests the boys are becoming more evil as they establish the Lord of the Flies on a stick and begin to worship the mysterious forces of the jungle. The Beast is another important literary device used by Golding. The Beast is symbolic of the evil residing within everyone-the dark side of human nature. The Beast is first introduced by a littun who has nightmare. Initially dismissed by the older boys as imaginary, the fear of the Beast in the boyââ¬â¢s minds continues to linger and haunt them. Indeed, its presence grows stronger and more frightening with each day on the island. With the discovery of the parachutist on the mountain top, the boys are convinced it is a living thing. Jack and his tribe make sacrifices to it, whilst Piggy and Ralph opt to avoid it completely. It is only Simon who has the insight to discover the truth-that the beast resided in the boys themselves, ââ¬Å"Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill â⬠¦ Iââ¬â¢m part of you. Close, close, closeâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ In addition, Piggyââ¬â¢s glasses are a symbol of political insight and clear-sightedness. As an inadequate leader, Ralph depends on Piggyââ¬â¢s judgment. Ralph must see through eyes that themselves need corrective lenses. Although Piggyââ¬â¢s vision is imperfect, even with glasses, it is allà Ralph has. The glasses are first damaged by Jack, who blurs them whilst attempting to light the fire. While the lenses remain intact, Ralph can at least go through the motions of statesmanship, however the smashing of one of the lenses diminishes Piggyââ¬â¢s effectiveness and the theft of the other by the hunters renders Piggy and Ralph helpless. Overall, the symbolic nature of Goldingââ¬â¢s setting, characters and literary devices, enforce its status as a fable. The symbol is an important tool used in writing fables, as can be seen in Lord of the Flies. Whilst the figurative temperament of the setting helps to show that what is happening on the island is just a mirror of whatââ¬â¢s happening in the wider world, the representational characteristics of the characters and literary devices help to give the novel a more complex and powerful meaning. In conclusion, William Goldingââ¬â¢s Lord of the Flies is a fable, in that it conforms to the structure and features of one. It offers us a moral lesson about the darkness of human nature, showing us that once the faà §ade of civilization is stripped away, man is fundamentally motivated in his behaviour by primal and brutal instincts. Golding delivers this message through the symbolic characteristics of his setting, characters and literary devices-important features of a fable. Lord of the Flies offers an important lesson to all of mankind, perhaps the one of the many reasons why this all time classic shall never die. ââ¬Å"And in the middle of them, with filthy, matted hair, and unwiped nose, Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of manââ¬â¢s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggyâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬
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