Death of a Salesman commentary Essay Example

Death of a Salesman commentary Paper A requiem is normally a speech or a musical composition that is performed in honor of someones death. In the requiem of the play Death of a Salesman, written by Arthur Miller, there is one particular speech that stands out the most and is marked as one of the most outstanding dialogues in the play. This is the speech that Charley gives. In this speech, Charley honors Willy as though he were a man of great position in society and in life. This dialogue is also representative of a eulogy as Charley describes Willy as a man who was lost in his quest for his dreams. Charley also expresses that Willy was a remarkable man; one that had to sell himself in order to succeed in his profession. He also remarked that Willy was not to blame for his actions, as his life and work were filled with high demands and expectations. The touching and emotional eulogy was perhaps one of the greatest things that Charley could have ever given Willy and serves as a last attempt to honor a man that was undervalued throughout his life. Charleys character in the play represents someone whom Willy had strived to be and had often times become quite jealous of. We will write a custom essay sample on Death of a Salesman commentary specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Death of a Salesman commentary specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Death of a Salesman commentary specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Despite this, Charley is Willys oldest friend and by the end of the play becomes his one and only financer, loaning him fifty dollars a week. Charley also represents someone who takes life easy, someone who is realistic and can determine the difference between fantasy and reality. This is the main difference between the two friends, and results in how one of them is a successful businessman and the other a struggling salesman. The text also suggests that Charley cares enough for his friend to offer him a job. Willy refuses emphatically as his pride will not allow him to work for his friend; notwithstanding the fact that Charley is frustrated over Willys delusions and unrealistic dreams. Charley was a great comrade, one that offered compassion and support throughout Willys toughest ordeals. During Charleys speech in the requiem, the text suggests that Charley valued Willys worth as a human being. The dialogue appears to be a semi-eulogy that is filled with much compassion and understanding of the struggle that his friend has encompassed in his lifetime. Nobody dast blame this man For a salesman, there is no rock bottom to the life. He dont put a bolt to a nut, he dont tell you the law or give you medicine. Hes a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back-thats an earthquake. And then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and youre finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory. (101). From this extract, Charley actually romanticizes Willys life and makes it sound as if it were one that was full of excitement, passion and adventure. This lasting tribute is one that signifies the respect that Charley has for his friend. Within the confines of Charleys speech, the mood is one of sadness and depression. The theme of loss is present as well. Charleys dialogue masks his earlier exasperation towards Willys lack of direction and reality in life. The speech also contains repetition, in which Charley frequently says Nobody dast blame this man. (101). This was perhaps used by the author, to put across the idea and emphasize strongly that it was not Willys fault that he ended up in the unfortunate circumstance that he is in. One way or another, when Charley speaks it is as though Arthur Miller himself steps in and gives his crude view of the society; its flaws and how its victims suffer in the end. Miller believes that a man has to have self-respect and morals in order to save himself from this type of imperfect society. Charley is the pillar of strength in the funeral; he gives advice to Linda, utters words of wisdom to Willys sons and at the same time speaks highly of his friend. The requiem is symbolic of the gift of friendship, from Charley to Willy. Were it not for Charleys attendance, the whole funeral would have been insignificant due to the fact that no one else was there except Willys family. Charleys importance in the play indicates Willys meaning and value as a human being that once strived for something he could never achieve. In the process of doing so, he has forgotten the most important values and morals in life. This is where Charley pities his friend, but he does so with respect. In the requiem, Charley regards Willy as thought he were a truly great person. The requiem of the play is filled with sad emotions that show the sense of loss that Willys family and friends feel. Charley, a vital character to this part of the play, wraps up Willys legacy and admits that he was a hard worker that often deserved more than what he bargained for. The eulogy that Charley gives is unanticipated yet; it shows the compassion and care that he had for Willy, a lasting friendship that no one else offered. Bibliography: Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. Dramatists Play Service, Inc. , 1998.

Anthony Burgess essays

Anthony Burgess essays John Burgess Wilson, better known to the reading public as Anthony Burgess, is regularly lauded by critics and peers for his imagination, his humor, his varied knowledge and his sheer productivity. Abundantly reflected in Burgesss fiction is his Roman Catholic background, which is part of an ancient regional and family heritage. Mr. Burgess says, I was brought up a Catholic, became an agnostic, flirted with Islam and now hold a position which may be termed Manichee...I believe the wrong God is temporarily ruling the world and the true God has gone under. It is through his Manichean position that Burgess uses his novels as a social commentary, based on his desire for free will and free thought. While the novels written by Anthony Burgess contained (at times) deplorable violence, they also conveyed his points accurately and intelligently. For example, in A Clockwork Orange, a form of teenage dialect (nadstat) was used to downplay the actual violent crimes being committed while still shocking the educated reader (Malafry 1). Burgesss novels are entertaining, shocking and amusing, but, more importantly, they revel ever deepening shades of meaning as they are reread, meanings that challenge the imagination as they force readers to consider the human plight (De Vitis 89). One such plight, which is a central theme in many of Burgesss works is his resentment towards the state. Urged through several protagonists is the defense of self, no matter how twisted it may be. Condemned is the state, no matter how benevolent it pretends to be (Coale 14). An additional important factor that explains why Burgess feels the way he does about the state and society in general is his firm belief in Manichee. Shockingly, his vision of the world as one of constant reversals and repetitions within the ongoing conflict between good and evil reveals an essentially conservative Catholic eschatology...

The Chinese Zombie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Chinese Zombie - Essay Example . Zombies are portrayed as â€Å"beings† operating in the universe that hardy understand or care to understand. In this speech, I focus on Chinese Zombie, also known as jiangshi, and how they influence Chinese cultural identity. The account is based on chapter eight, Gothic monster and Chinese cultural identity: analysis of the note of ghoul, from the book "Thinking Dead: What the Zombie Apocalypse Means." In the Chinese culture, the Chinese zombies are categorized as either male or female for particular reasons. In the Note of Ghouls, resurrected zombies have their gender as male. The female zombie that existed was later on adjusted to a ghost. A reason for this could be that it was only those bodies that had least deterioration that could be resurrected back as zombies. In most cases, it was only the bodies of tomb owners that were well preserved. Historical accounts of Chinese society indicate that it was of patriarchal nature, thus implying that tomb owners were male. Women ended up being buried alongside the owner just as mortuary bodies. It is thus presumed that the feeling of resentment for being sacrificed in favour of the tomb owner drove them to convert into lingering ghosts upon their deaths. Also, there exist accounts that assert that women bodies were used to cultivate the male zombies. Generally, female gender was not given much credit as to the male gender.

Global warming is bad Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Global warming is bad - Research Paper Example Gradual evolution of the idea stirred an emotional debate between opponents and proponents of global warming that ultimately seems to end on rigid stance from both sides. To answer the question weather global warming is good or bad, we must analyse if it is there. The idea has been controversial and increasingly considered to be a myth. Its proponents consider it to be the crucial turn in this century and spending fortunes on investigating and finding solutions while its opponents attribute it to be more political than scientific. The paper analyses both sides and concludes that global warming is bad in either case. The concept of global warming didn’t pop up in a day,with very solid scientifc base,it formulated in a gradual but uncertain way.Lindzen aptly states, â€Å"Warming is a subject riddled by uncertainty† (424).Indeed, the idea has been subjected to intense debates during mid and late 80s without getting to a unanimous conclusion. Different reports by IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (1996, 2001) suggested scientific frameworks in order to prevent adverse impact of climate change that brought Kyoto protocol for reducing the emission of greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels. The impact of global warming as projected by media is focused on increase in mean temperature of earth and its consequences, for instance, extreme weather conditions or increasing frequency of such events. In reality, global warming and climate change is much more complex (Khandekar, Murty and Chittibabu 1557).According to newspaper account of U.S. government study in 1988 suggested certain threats that include: Some ecological systems, particularly forests...may be unable to adapt quickly enough to a rapid increase in temperature...most of the notion’s coastal marshes and swamps would be inundated by salt water...an earlier snowmelt and runoff could disrupt water management systems...Disease borne by

Describe the main duties of an Accountable Manager. How does the Coursework - 1

Describe the main duties of an Accountable Manager. How does the holder of this position relate to the financial management - Coursework Example The accountable manager is usually considered to have some position in the Board of directors or other equivalent body of the company. This allows him a more close connection with the owners of the company. So, the objectives set by the Board of Directors contain an opinion on his part. It also assists him further to understand the objectives fully and other underlying requirements of these objectives. The presence of a person in setting objectives makes such manager more accountable as the objectives are set with full collaboration of such manager. However, larger organizations usually consist of more than one units who either dependent of each other or independently work to achieve the desired results and objectives. The regulations for each of these units are also different. So, different accountable managers are appointed for all these units who supervise the work of these units. These managers are accountable to their respective Regulatory body. Usually, accountable managers are solely responsible for the accomplishment of desired objectives. However, the tasks are not carried out by them alone. A large number of subordinates are involved and it is inevitable for the accountable manager to rely upon the work of subordinate managers. However, these subordinates are responsible to report to the accountable manager about their work. The Accountable manager is after all responsible for their own work s well as the work of their subordinates. Because of such greater responsibility, the accountable managers are not given any other task which they are capable of carrying out. The reason is that the focus is not diverted to any other work which is less important than the primary job of such manager. In case of companies which carry out air operations, the accountable manager is responsible to the regulatory body, either within or outside the company, for all the operations which are

Caring For The Elderly Essay

Caring For The Elderly Essay In general, society considers the elderly as persons above the ages of sixty or sixty-five. This is usually the beginning of old age as a person becomes less active in political, social and economic affairs. Though there are elderly persons who are in good health and active members of their communities, majority are the ones whose physical and mental functions are on the decline. Since they are not able to get along on their own, majority of the elderly persons require attention and care from their loved ones as well as friends. Consequently, psychologists use the term elderly care to refer to the personal as well as medical attention that this group of the population receives. It is evident that elderly care takes a variety of forms, ranging from personal care such as feeding and dressing, to medical attention. In addition, the care that a family chooses for its elderly persons will depend on their needs. This is because some of the elderly persons may still be in good health while others may be frail. Consequently, some of them may require home-based care while others may need specialized attention in a nursing home or in a hospital. Whatever the case, the elderly do need some form of care. In this study, I shall focus on the American culture and the Asian culture, and make comparisons between the two, in relation to the aspect of caring for the elderly. For the Asian culture, I shall examine the Japanese. In both United States of America and Japan, the number of elderly persons is on the increase. This means that both governments have to consider and put in place the best mechanisms to cater for this group of the population. Different communities accord the elderly different forms of care, depending on how their cultures dictate. The way a community perceives old age will therefore affect the manner in which it treats the elderly. The responsibility of caring for the elderly in Caucasian and Japanese cultures lies mainly with the woman, because these societies consider her as an innate caregiver due to her maternal abilities and instincts. However, this is also due to the fact that, over the years, the woman has fewer opportunities in the economic scene, and as a result, she remains at home most of the time to take care of her children and the elderly. On the other hand, when the woman is able to access the labor market, she finds herself in positions where she has to provide care for others. Most nurses, school and hospital matrons are women. However, in the above cultures, children also participate in elderly care, as a form of compensation for the nurture their parents gave them when they were young. The American society places a lot of emphasis on staying young. Consequently, as Samovar et. al. (2009) notes we find a culture that prefers youth to old age. (p.71). This negative perception of old age makes the young people avoid staying together with the elderly and caring for them. The older adult population rather than the young adults are the ones taking care of the elderly. This explains why some families in the United States give over their old relatives to nursing homes. This does not however mean that the young cut all their links with their elderly relatives. They do provide support and maintain contact with them. The nursing homes are an option for the elderly people who have no family or relatives to look after them at home. This is especially the case for those who are physically handicapped and require the help of another person to take care of them. Though the nursing homes have become the choice for most families with elderly relatives, they do have their limitations. Some of these institutions for the elderly have become money-making ventures, therefore reducing their emphasis on the needs of the elderly. Poor hygiene and lack of trained medical personnel and quality treatment as well as poor feeding programs are some of the problems the elderly face in these nursing homes. Moreover, placing the elderly in nursing homes limits their freedoms as they have to follow the stipulated program. They cannot choose when to feed, sleep, interact with their fellow housemates and cannot keep their belongings. However, nursing homes for the elderly still remain the option for most American families, as there has not been much success with home-based care. On a positive note, the elderly persons in American society have more groups of friends and neighbors whom they can go to for support, than the aged people in Japanese society. This means that the American elderly are likely to receive care from their friends and neighbors, apart from their immediate family members. However, the Americans usually tend to give special care to their elderly only after they learn that the latter are facing a medical problem. However, since the family is still the main caregiver for the elderly, some of the American families employ professional nurses to take care of their old at home, instead of sending them away to nursing homes. Another reason for this is that, institutions for taking care of the elderly are expensive, and some of these families are not able to afford them. Moreover, some families opt to take their elderly to day nursing institutions, where they receive care throughout the day and then return home in the evening. This is suitable for those people who are working and cannot stay with the elderly relatives during the day as they have to report to work. It is also convenient for working adults who cannot afford specialized care for their elderly ones, either at home or in a nursing institution. In some instances, the elderly person may be able to live in his or her own house, and may be strong enough not to require specialized attention and care. In such cases, the family members of such an elderly person find a house near other aged people, in areas where the amenities they need on a day-to-day basis are readily available. This form of elderly care appeals to the community and involves them in taking responsibility for this group of the population. On the economic front, some of the big corporate organizations have introduced benefit schemes for their employees, in order to help them in caring for their elderly relatives. This is because most companies want to avoid losses in production, due to having employees who have to work while at the same time take care of their elderly relatives. Some companies also provide home-based care services for the elderly, but as a profit-making venture. This however, has a negative side to it as these privatized services are costly and not many families are able to afford them. On the other hand, Asian culture of the Japanese has a positive perception of the elderly. It teaches the children to respect and care for the elderly. The Japanese consider the family as the prime caregiver for their elderly, and in this case, it is usually a female member of the family who carries out this duty. This is because the Japanese believe that it is not in order to take the elderly to a nursing home as this is equivalent to neglecting ones responsibility of taking care of ones parents. This also makes the Japanese families give the required care to their elderly relatives throughout their old age, rather than only when they are facing a health problem. In the case of aged people who are not related to the family, Japanese wives or their daughters are the ones who tend to give their elderly friends the care they need. Sometimes, the daughters-in-law also give care to the elderly, especially if the patient is female. However, if other friends and non relatives are living under the same roof with the elderly persons, they may provide the necessary care to the latter. This is in contrast to the case of the American elderly who receive care from their family as well as friends and neighbors. In Japan, the activity of giving care to the elderly is mainly as an act of duty, rather than voluntary will. The caregiver considers this act as one that he or she has to give, and in most cases, the Japanese wife will provide the elderly attention at her husbands request. The dependence of the Japanese elderly on their immediate family is also evident in the fact that most of them rely on their spouses and their children for financial support. Since the Japanese believe that giving the elderly care is a womans job, the men usually leave this task to their wives. However, though the Japanese men are away from home most of the time, they also contribute to elderly care by giving their spouses financial as well as emotional assistance. Again, by participating in looking after their children, they allow their wives to find time to take care of the elderly members of the family. Elderly care in Japan still remains largely in the hands of the family, especially for those who are not sickly and in need of specialized medical attention. However, caring for the elderly at home is no longer the only option, and families have begun taking the old to nursing homes. This is due to a number of reasons such as the aging of the family members providing the care as well as the increasing involvement of the Japanese women in formal training and employment. Moreover, Japanese families are not living in large numbers as they did in the past. However, the number of nursing homes for the elderly and professional caregivers is on the decrease because of the Japanese belief that it is the immediate family which bears the responsibility of taking care of their elderly relatives. The elderly who are in need of very little personal and health care remain at home, but get visits from personnel who attend to them. This happens either a few times a week or every day depending on the needs of the elderly person. Due to the rising demand for health caregivers for the elderly, Japan has sought the help of care personnel from the Philippines. These caregivers are more experienced and are willing to work at a low pay. Due to the increase in the elderly population, financial resources have not been enough to allow families to put their relatives under specialized care at home and in nursing institutions. It is due to this situation that hospitals in Japan have offered to accommodate the elderly who are in need of both personal as well as medical attention. This way, the elderly in Japan can access long-term care. Though on a small-scale, the Japanese elderly engage in volunteering programs where they offer services to the community and in turn, they receive personal as well as medical care. There are however some similarities in the aspects of elderly care in American and Japanese cultures. Care for the elderly is still one of the concerns of both the United States and Japanese governments, though they differ in their policies. America gives priority to provision of medical attention, pension for retirees and shelter, while the Japanese government came up with policies to put in place insurance for every citizen including the elderly, for a long-term period. In both countries, the increase in aging members of the population has put a lot of pressure on the medical as well as retirement schemes. However, technological advances in medicine have increased and they are being used to improve the life-expectancy levels of the American and Japanese aging populations. Again, since women are increasingly going into formal employment, the men in both countries are also becoming more and more involved in elderly care. In conclusion, due to lifestyle changes, many people have started living in smaller groups and families, and are also located far from each other. Consequently, caring for the elderly can no longer be the responsibility of the immediate family alone, but has to be a prerogative of governments, non governmental organizations as well as private institutions.

Analysis of Columbia’s Final Mission Essay -- Case Study, Case Analys

Putting yourself in the shoes of the managers or engineers in the case (Ron Dittemore, Linda Ham, Don McCormack, Rodney Rocha, Pamela Madera, Calvin Schomburg), consider the following questions? †¢ What prior assumptions and beliefs shaped the way that you thought and behaved during the Columbia mission? †¢ What pressures affected your behavior? Where did these pressures originate? †¢ In what ways did the culture impact your actions? †¢ If you were in that person’s shoes during the Columbia mission, would you have behaved differently? Why or why not? a) Rodney Rocha Rodney Rocha is a NASA engineer and co-chair of Debris Assessment Team (DTS). When possibility of wing damage appeared he requested an additional imagery to obtain more information in order to evaluate the damage. This demonstrates that he actually tried to resolve the issue. However, due to absence of clear organizational responsibilities in NASA those images were never received. Since foam issue was there for years and risk for the flights was estimated as low management decided not to proceed with this request. After learning of management decision Rocha wrote an e-mail there he stated that foam damage could carry grave hazard and have to be addressed. At the same time this e-mail was not send to the management team. Organizational culture at NASA could be described as highly bureaucratic with operations under standard procedures only. Low-end employees like Rocha are afraid to bring any safety-related issues to the management due to delay of the mission. They can be punished for bringing â€Å"bad news†. This type of relationship makes it impossible for two-way communication between engineers and managers, which are crucial for decision-making in complex env... ... Integration, accepted risk of foam problem based on previous observations. She preferred one-way communication and did not pay attention to the specialist (Rocha) opinion for requests for additional imagery. Culture at NASA was converted over time to a culture that combines bureaucratic, cost efficiency and schedule efficiency of the flights. This culture of production reinforced the decisions to continue flights rather than delay while a thorough hazard analysis was conducted. Managers were so focused on reaching their schedule targets that the foam insulation problem did not induce them to shift their attention to safety. It appears that at NASA managers overrule engineers when the organization was under budget and time pressure. In my opinion, high-level managers should avoid making important decisions based on beliefs and instead rely on specialist’s opinion.