Conflict, Decision Making, and Organizational Design Research Paper - 1

Conflict, Decision Making, and Organizational Design - Research Paper Example However, due to certain physiological issues, the communication gap between the employees may increase, thus leading to a more complex situation (Bruce, 2003). According to Harris (2001), â€Å"decision making is the study of identifying and choosing alternatives based on the values and the preferences of the decision maker.† In other words, the decision maker has the privilege to choose from the numerous alternatives that he/she thinks is suitable according to the situation. As stated by Galbraith, Downey, & Kates (2002), organizational design is referred to as the continuous process of congregating people practices, reward systems, and structure of the organization for developing the capabilities of achieving the strategies required for the business. Thus, it can be recognized. The effective design of an organization is a significant part in ensuring that organizational goals and strategies are met. In this paper, the three key issues, i.e. conflict, decision making, and org anizational design will be discussed in context of the Field Support Directorate (FSD) of the United States Army Software Engineer Center. These issues will be identified and negotiation strategies will be applied to addressing the conflicts. Moreover, the process of applying of evidence-based management will be determined. Apart from these, the stages and the methods of decision making will be analyzed and recommended to the employer of FSD to follow. Last but not the least, the environmental and strategic factors that affect the organizational design will be discussed and analyzed. Process of Applying Negotiation Strategies to Address Potential Conflict in FSD As stated by Rahwan, McBurney & Sonenberg (2003), negotiation is the interaction between a group of people, with an aspiration to cooperate with the possible contradictory interests that tend to facilitate in reaching a mutually approved and acceptable division of limited resources. In other words, negotiation regarding solv ing a conflict often leads to sacrifices done by both parties involved in the conflict (Rahwan, McBurney, & Sonenberg, 2003). According to Cloke & Goldsmith (2005), conflict resolution’s definition is similar to the definition of success which is described by Winston Churchill as â€Å"the process from failure to failure with undiminished enthusiasm†. Similarly, conflict resolution always begins and remains at an endpoint until a distinguished reason or a solution and resolution become possible. Thus, the author further suggests that learning references should be followed to gain problem solving knowledge and to explore in-depth reasons for resistance, to understand the process of mediation and to redesign organizational cultures, systems, and structures. Thus, the processes will help to discourage suppression of the conflict and to encourage avoidance and resolution (Cloke & Goldsmith, 2005). The Field Support Directorate (FSD) provides a software support structure to the operations center that is one of the decisive links between the field support personnel, Warfighter, and software maintenance facility. The FSD’s role is to resolve any issue concerning the software labs by providing rapid solution to any unit concerns. The department is divided and mapped with various other departments to work closely with all the units and the CECOM Senior Command Representatives to provide resolutions to

Commodity Trading in the United Kingdom Dissertation

Commodity Trading in the United Kingdom - Dissertation Example This research study examines how two of the largest commodity traders in the world, Vitol and Glencore International, conduct their commodity trading activities through the commodity exchanges in the United Kingdom and in its OTC market. The pit trading system of the years gone by is now replaced by electronic systems that receive orders from traders through the Internet to match these orders with other orders for execution of a transaction. In an electronic exchange the clearinghouse regulated by a supervisory body and the government acts as an intermediary, to deliver lower costs, security, reliability and a global reach for trading in commodity contracts and commodity derivatives. The OTC market in the United Kingdom is less strictly regulated than the exchanges listing commodity contracts and commodity derivatives, but this market offers flexibility for those with needs that standardised commodity listed contracts cannot satisfy. A literature review and semi-structured interviews with commodity traders with expert knowledge assist the research together with the case studies for Vitol and Glencore International. The research concludes that it is likely that the United Kingdom commodity market will continue to attract interest from all around the world with a promise for delivering more for less even into the future. Contents Chapter 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Background 3 1.2 Objectives of the Research Study 6 Chapter 2 Literature review 8 2.1 The Impact of Electronic Trading on Commodities 8 2.2 Contracts on Commodity Exchanges 10 2.3 The Trading House and Trading Commission in Exchanges 11 2.4 The Financial Services Authority (FSA) 12 2.5 The London International Financial and Futures Exchange (LIFFE) 13 2.6 Trading on the LIFFE CONNECT 15 2.7 Buyers and Sellers on Electronic Exchanges 17 2.8 Types of Orders on the LIFFE CONNECT 18 2.9 Basics of Commodity Trading 21 2.10 Commodity Derivatives 22 2.11 Over-the-Counter Trades 23 2.12 Regulation of Commodity Tradin g 25 2.13 The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) 27 Chapter 3 Methodology 30 Chapter 4 Results of Semi-Structured Interviews 37 Chapter 5 Case Studies 44 5.1 Vitol Case Study 44 5.2 Case Study for Glencore International 47 Chapter 6 Analysis and Interpretation 51 Chapter 7 Conclusions and Recommendations 65 Appendix A - Questionnaire for Semi-Structured Interviews 69 Appendix B - Consent Form 74 Bibliography / References 76 List of Figures Figure 1: Change in Commodities Trading in the United Kingdom over the Years 53 Figure 2: Commodity Assets under Management in the United Kingdom 55 Figure 3: OTC Derivatives Trading in Commodities in the United Kingdom 56 Figure 4: Commodity Trading on Exchanges in the United Kingdom 57 Figure 5: A Comparison of Commodities, Stocks and Bonds in the United Kingdom 58 Figure 6: Breakdown of Exchange Traded Commodity Securities in the United Kingdom 60 Figure 7: Value of London Bullion Market Clearing 61 Figure 8: A Comparison of Lon g-Term Commodities Returns based on the Goldman Sachs Commodities Index 62 (This page intentionally left blank) Chapter 1 Introduction Agricultural commodities, minerals, crude oil, metals, natural gas and even energy in the form of electricity are among the fundamental inputs for production and consumption in all societies (Schaeffer, 2008, Pp. 1 – 5). Thus, resource commodity markets are vital for all regions and nations because these markets play a central role in economic development, international trade, and global economic and political stability. Commodity markets enable resource-producing nations to earn export revenues by linking

A.C. Devices Essay Example for Free

A.C. Devices Essay INTRODUCTION Although in our daily life we use A.C. current devices. But rectifier is a ‘Electronic device which converts A.C. power into D.C. power’. The study of the junction diode characteristics reveals that the junction diode offers a low resistance path, when forward biased, and a high resistance path, when reverse biased. This feature of the junction diode enables it to be used as a rectifier. The alternating signals provides opposite kind of biased voltage at the junction after each half-cycle. If the junction is forward biased in the first half-cycle, its gets reverse biased in the second half. It results in the flow of forward current in one direction only and thus the signal gets rectified. In other words, we can say, when an alternating e.m.f. signal is applied across a junction diode, it will conduct only during those alternate half cycles, which biased it in forward direction. TYPE OF RECTIFIER Mainly we have two types of rectifier : 1. Half wave rectifier. 2. Full wave rectifier. JUNCTION DIODE AS HALF WAVE RECTIFIER When a single diode is used as a rectifier, the rectification of only one-half of the A.C. wave form takes place. Such a rectification is called half-wave rectification. The circuit diagram for a half-wave rectifier is shown in Fig. Principle : It is based upon the principle that junction diode offers low resistance path when forward biased, and high resistance when reverse biased. Arrangement :- The A.C. supply is applied across the primary coil(P) of a step down transformer. The secondary coil(S) of the transformer is connected to the junction diode and a load resistance RL. The out put D.C. voltage is obtained across the load resistance(RL) Theory : Suppose that during the first half of the input cycle, the junction diode gets forward biased the conventional current will flow in the direction of the arrow-heads. The upper end of RL will be at positive potential w.r.t. the lower end. During the negative half cycle of the input a.c. voltage, the diode is reverse biased. No current flows in the circuit, and therefore, no voltage is developed across (RL). Since only the positive half cycle of the input appears across the load, the a.c. input is converted into pulsating direct current (d.c.). Disadvantage of Half-Wave-Rectifier : 1. Half wave rectification involves a lot of wastage of energy and hence it is not preferred. 2. A small current flows during reverse bias due to minority charge carriers. As the output across (RL) is negligible. 3. The resulting d.c. voltage is not steady enough for some purpose. The following device is used when a very steady d.c. voltage is required. JUNCTION DIODE AS A FULL WAVE RECTIFIER â€Å"A rectifier which rectifies both waves of the a.c. input is called a full wave rectifier†. Principle :- It is based upon the principle that a junction diode offers low resistance during forward biased and high resistance, when reverse biased. Difference from half-wave-rectifier :- The main difference is that in full wave rectifier we use two diodes. For this when we apply a.c. current to the rectifier then the first half wave get forward biased due to first diode. And when the second half wave comes. Then at that time the second diode comes in action and gets forward biased. Thus output obtained during both the half cycles of the a.c. input Arrangement :- The a.c. supply is applied across the primary coil(P) of a step down transformer. The two diodes of the secondary coil(S) of the transformer are connected to the P-sections of the junction diodes (D1) and (D2). A load resistance (RL) is connected across the n-sections of the two diodes and at centre of the secondary coil. The d.c. output will be obtained across the load resistance (RL). Theory :- Suppose that during first half of the input cycle, upper end of (S) coil is at positive potential. And lower end is at negative potential. The junction diode (D1) gets forward biased, while the diode. (D2) get reverse biased. When the second half of the input cycle comes, the situation will be exactly reverse. Now the junction diode (D2) will conduct. Since the current during both the half cycles flows from right to left through the load resistance (RL) the output during both the half cycles will be of same nature. Thus, in a full wave rectifier, the output is continuous but pulsating in nature. However it can be made smooth by using a filter circuit. REVERSE BIASING ON A JUNCTION DIODE A P-n junction is said to be reverse biased if the positive terminal of the external battery B is connected to n-side and the negative terminal to p-side of the p-n junction. In reverse biasing, the reverse bias voltage supports the potential barrier VB. (Now the majority carriers are pulled away from the junction and the depletion region become thick. There is no conduction across the junction due to majority carriers. However, a few minority carriers (holes in n-section and electrons in p-section) of p-n Junction diode cross the junction after being accelerated by high reverse bias voltage. Since the large increase in reverse voltage shows small increase in reverse current, hence, the resistance of p-n junction is high to the flow of current when reverse biased. MATERIAL REQUIRED 1. Transformer : It is device which is used to increase or decrease the alternating current and alternating voltage. For the rectifier, it may be step down or step up. 2. Junction Diode : It is made up of p-type and n-type semiconductor which conducts when the p terminal of diode to connect to positive terminal of battery and n region is connected to negative terminal of battery i.e. during forward biased and does not conduct during reverse biased.

Essay --

1. Why choose seasonal sales promotion as key KPI for Global electronic retail Seasonal sales promotion has grown substantially in recent years because it encourages people to buy more. There are few benefits for this growth in sales promotion for global electronic retail. ï  ¬ First consumers have easily accepted seasonal promotion as part of their buying decision criteria therefore they have a reason to look electronic product up constantly. ï  ¬ Second it is an opportunity to attract customer’s attention for global electronic retail and bring in new business in the sense of inheriting marketing themes with each season, holiday or event. ï  ¬ Third seasonal promotions focusing mainly on short term growth in sales which will immediate bring in additional revenue and increase margins. ï  ¬ Fourth it motivates and stimulates sales staffs. Create a sense of urgency: the promotion won’t last longer than the season/event. 2. The reason setting seasonal promotions could be based on the benefits above, but when decide to setting the target of seasonal promotion figures, the list of things below need ...

Movie Review The Lord Of the War Essay

Lord of War almost didn’t make it to the big screen. In fact, it barely even reached the production stage due to its bristly, accusatory subject matter of illegal international arms dealing. Yet despite its Hollywood feel, â€Å"Lord of War† is an excellent introduction to the opaque and oft-ignored activities of the merchants of death, or lords of war. Writer/director Andrew Niccol (The Terminal, Simone, and The Truman Show) insisted upon strictly adhering to true life events that shed an unflattering light on many of the world’s wealthiest nations. Although telling the truth in Lord of War makes for a riveting tale of international intrigue and finger pointing, it wasn’t really a great way to secure funding for a major motion picture. It took the gumption of several foreign investors who were willing to take a chance that the film’s powerful message would resonate with audiences. Count me as one of those moved by the film’s cruel honesty. Still living with his immigrant family in Brighton Beach, Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage) has had enough–the family restaurant has no customers, his cook brother Vitaly (Jared Leto) can’t cook and his mother nags his devout Jewish father who is anything but Jewish. So instead of getting sucked into a go-nowhere life, Yuri naturally gets into arms dealing. After selling a local hood an Uzi, Yuri discovers that he might actually have the knack. He recruits his younger brother–more for moral support than business acumen–and begins to soar up the arms dealing food chain, attaining wealth, luxury and an exciting lifestyle along the way. The only thing he lacks is his dream girl–Ava Fontaine (Bridget Moynahan), a Brighton Beach beauty queen-turned-supermodel. But Yuri finally wins her heart, too, by posing as a legitimate businessman with more money than he actually has. Ava senses he’s not legit, but just as long as they have their penthouse overlooking Central Park and a chauffeured limo, she’d rather not know what he does. Meanwhile, Yuri’s interests clash with his chief rival, Simeon Weisz (Ian Holm), an old-school gunrunner, coming to terms with the end of the Cold War. Backed into a corner, Yuri is given a choice between continued competition or none at all, and his decision sends Yuri into a spiral of rapid moral decay despite ever-increasing profits. His greatest struggle through it all has been with himself. In the end, he learns to accept the Golden Rule of arms dealing: Never wage war with anybody, especially yourself. Lord of War shines its cinematic spotlight on the shadowy world of illicit arms trafficking – a global scourge that has claimed millions of lives since the end of the Cold War. According to Yuri in this film, owning guns or bullets is the second most basic human need behind eating. The skeleton is here for a truly revolutionary film that simply ties with the real world of today which ways reveal bold strokes about the amorality of world politics, and how every single one of us has rationalized the wholesale export of violence because it keeps us in comfort. The world is a business – it’s about money, of course, and as long as someone is paying, actions toward fellow man are burdensome, if not irrelevant. There is only the bottom line, and every man, woman, or child who has died on the field of battle has done so in the name of profit, usually of the corporate variety. As we compare to this existing world of today, a lot of business intelligent men chose to profit from human frailty. Lord of War narrates the proceedings by breaking the third wall with a cynical, matter-of-fact voice-over that lays out a gritty, dirty snapshot of a world – the devastating consequences of the worldwide trade in weapons that we don’t want to know exists. Though we’re uncomfortable knowing the truth, seeing how it actually works is absolutely captivating. Nations throughout the world are implicated in wrongdoing, as Niccol’s pointed story pulls no punches. His brutal honesty often hurts. It is, for instance, fascinating and horrifying to learn that the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council are the world’s biggest arms suppliers, which technically, is correct; and also dares to suggest that death is the biggest business of all.   Most viewers won’t find comfort in accepting the film’s political accusations, and its moral dilemmas will undoubtedly offend many, especially in today’s increasingly volatile world. But good, thought-provoking filmmaking is good for us all. REFERENCE Niccol, A. (Director/Writer/Producer). (2005). Lord of War [Motion picture]. United States: 20th Century Fox -Arclight Films.

To what extent is this true and how important is this conflict to the novel as a whole?

Throughout Iris Murdoch's novel, ‘The Bell' we are constantly being presented with conflicts, many of which relate to the discord between sex and religion which have been opposed to each other since the dawn of creation when Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation in the Garden of Eden. This conflict has particularly dark tendencies and acts as a destructive force for several characters, namely Catherine, Michael and Nick. Despite this being the primary theme of the novel we are also presented with a number of conflicts of a different nature. The main conflict of the novel is that existing between sex and religion, as embodied by Catherine and Michael. Michael is constantly confronted by the issue of his sexuality and how it affects his religion. He is always striving to live a good life and he believes that entering into the priesthood would allow him to achieve this. However he is prevented from fulfilling this wish by his homosexuality which goes completely against the Church's teaching. Michael believes that to live a good life, â€Å"One should have a conception of one's capacities †¦ study carefully how best to use such strength as one has†. In initiating relationships with firstly Nick and then subsequently with Toby, Michael is clearly failing to do this. He is aware of his sexual tendencies and knows that they are viewed as improper but fails to take measures to prevent them from overpowering him. Michael admits to this failing in Chapter 16, â€Å"Michael was aware now †¦ that it had been a great mistake to see Toby †¦ the clasp of hands, had had an intensity, and indeed delightfulness, which he had not foreseen – or had not cared to foresee. † Michael seems to take pleasure in the feeling of guilt which these forbidden relationships cause in him. When he is confronted by James Tayper Pace, following Toby's confession of what had taken place between them, he is quite willing to take all the blame for the whole situation, â€Å"The real blame belongs to me. By sending Toby away you've made him feel like a criminal. † It is as though Michael wants James to blame him. He feeds off guilt; the constant cycle of guilt, redemption and then further guilt. Nick's arrival at Imber Court acts as a further reminder of his sins and at the conclusion of the novel when Nick has killed himself, Michael is left with a permanent reminder of his actions as he becomes responsible for Catherine. Despite all the guilt, Michael feels that his love of God and his love of Nick â€Å"come from the same source†. The moments in which he claims to feel closest to God are ironically found with Nick and Toby. Of Michael's feelings over his initial contact with Toby the narrator comments that, â€Å"He had felt his heart heel over in tenderness for the boy, and had been sure that such a spring of feeling could not be wholly evil. † However, Michael is unable to reconcile his homosexuality with his religion and is tormented by it constantly. Nick's death destroys his faith in God and causes him to question whether he had ever really believed at all. He is ridden with guilt over his failure to give Nick the redemption he was looking for. He made desperate cries for help but Michael was too concerned with trying to lead a ‘good life' to notice. The one good thing he could have done was to be true to Nick, however he fails to realise this until it is too late. Although he does eventually return to the Mass he simply â€Å"existed beside it†. There is no longer any future for him in religion; he must concentrate on looking after Catherine. As the Abbess said, â€Å"the way is always forward, never back†. Michael is facing in the right direction but it is up to him to start walking. Catherine, like Michael, cannot reconcile her sexuality with her religion. As a postulant nun she is preparing to sacrifice her whole life to serve God. Iris Murdoch believed that one of life's great tasks was to engage in a process called unselfing. By joining the convent Catherine is attempting this process. Therefore, her feelings for Michael are totally improper for someone in her position; consequently she is ridden with guilt, which leads to her attempt to take her own life. The entire community is oblivious to her feelings for Michael. She is viewed as being something the other members should aspire to, â€Å"our little saint† as Mrs Mark observes. Dora is particularly in awe of her, both for her beauty and apparent sexual purity. She also feels slightly threatened by her as she represents what she can never have or be. It is as a result of Dora's interest in Catherine that we first get a suggestion that she is not as holy as everyone believes. Dora questions her motives for wishing to enter the abbey and Catherine's reply is, â€Å"There are things one doesn't choose †¦ I don't mean they are forced on one. But one doesn't choose them. These are often the best things†. This hints that she is not whole-hearted in her wish for a religious life: it appears that it is what was always expected of her, rather than being of her own design. Dora is the only character who notices this; the rest are all deceived until the dramatic incidents at the end. However nobody suspects that she may have feelings towards Michael. The only incident where we are given an inkling of any attraction is when Nick is working on the van and Catherine is sitting beside him with her skirt up around her waist; Michael arrives and she doesn't readjust it. Michael feels uncomfortable in this situation but gets the impression that she must â€Å"positively dislike him† as she looks up at him without smiling. Catherine ultimately fails to suppress her love for Michael and when the new bell falls into the lake she views this as a sign that God has condemned her, driving her to attempt to take her own life. Like Michael she cannot be truly good as she cannot reconcile her faith with her sexuality. There are also religious conflicts within the community as a whole. Firstly there is the conflict between the abbey and the lay community. The abbey is cut off both physically and in terms of the role it plays in everyday life. The abbey is separated from Imber Court by a large lake. The only way to reach the abbey is by a rowing boat which can be pulled across from either end. Then there is a high wall which goes all the way around the abbey. The only way in is through a door in the wall, which surprisingly is always kept unlocked. Toby discovers this when he climbs over the wall into the abbey as part of his sexual awakening. This incident follows the embrace with Michael and is Toby's attempt to convince himself that he is not homosexual. There is very little contact made between the abbey and the court. We only see rare glimpses of the nuns and Michael is the only person who is allowed to visit the Abbess. Most communications are made through Mother Clare, her intermediary. These boundaries are all representative of the widening gap between lay and spiritual life, and the fading role of religion in everyday existence during the 1950's when Murdoch was writing. People were abandoning the church in favour of other beliefs more relevant to the world they were living in. The community as a whole is separated from the rest of the world as there is a boundary wall enclosing both the abbey and the court. As Michael comes to realise, the community was an impossible dream; it is an attempt to isolate themselves from the realities of life. We also see religious and sexual conflicts between individual characters. Take for instance the contrasting speeches given by Michael and James Tayper Pace, in chapters 9 and 16 respectively, on how to live a ‘good life'. James teaches that the good life is, â€Å"to live without any image of oneself†. He has absolute faith in God and believes that he will guide him through life. James is a very sure person, confident in his own beliefs and very dismissive of anyone who disagrees with him. â€Å"I have little time for the man who finds his life too complicated for the ordinary rules to fit†. This viewpoint is very much the orthodox view of religion that had held prominence unchallenged for centuries until the time period in which Murdoch wrote the novel, when people started challenging this blinkered outlook. Michael by contrast takes a much more open stance. He believes this it is important to, â€Å"have some conception of one's capacities† so as to know â€Å"how best to use such strengths as one has†. Rather than having blind faith in God alone he suggests that you should explore yourself, test the boundaries of your capabilities. Ironically Michael fails to be aware of his own shortcomings in his dealings with Nick and Toby. To most modern audiences this attitude would seem much the better of the two. Nevertheless, in presenting these two different viewpoints Murdoch acts as a moral philosopher but allows us to contemplate and draw our own conclusions. She does not appear to be endorsing one in particular, possibly suggesting that the way forward is a compromise between the two. There is also a conflict of character between Mrs Mark and Dora. Mrs Mark strictly enforces the religious ideals of the community. For example when Dora asks her what she and her husband did before entering the community she is told, â€Å"We never discuss our past lives here †¦ when people ask each other questions about their lives, their motives are rarely pure†. In fact Dora is asking purely out of interest, she does not attempt to judge others. By conversing with Mrs Mark she was simply trying to show human warmth but this is killed by Mrs Mark's restrictive nature, which is reflected in the community as a whole. Murdoch uses symbolism to show conflicts with this novel and the most obvious use of it is the two bells. The old bell depicts scenes from the life of Christ, illustrated by rural, peasant images. It is inscribed with the words, â€Å"Vox ego amoris sum† (I am the voice of love). The bell is symbolic of a traditional way of life that had existed for centuries, with religious and secular life co-existing in harmony. In contrast the new bell is covered with â€Å"arabesque swirls†: these are meaningless, therefore reflecting the declining importance of religion in peoples' lives. Spiritual fulfilment was becoming more abstract during the 1950's, an example being Dora's revelation in the National Gallery when she is standing in front of Gainsborough's painting of his two daughters and experiences something â€Å"real† but at the same time â€Å"perfect†. In the past people would have turned to religion to provide such feelings and called them revelations. The story of the bell flying into the lake and the nun who drowned herself because she was having a relationship with a man are representative of the ongoing conflict between sex and religion. When the old bell is rung again it heralds the revealing of the long know truth that this conflict will never die, as Catherine declares her love for Michael and Toby confesses to James Tayper Pace over his encounters with Michael. The tarnishing and growths encrusted on the bell from years of being underwater illustrate the loss of purity in contemporary religion, also the tarnishing of Michael and, through his actions, Nick. The lake is another important symbol which contains different meanings. As well as providing a physical gap between the court and the abbey it is symbolic of the divide between spiritual and temporal life. When at the end of the novel Dora cuts the painter on the rowing boat it shows that there is no future for these two lifestyles to exist side by side. The lake is particularly significant when analysing the character of Toby. When he is contemplating his relationships with Dora and Michael he walks â€Å"carefully† around the lake. He is young and inexperienced in the ways of the world, not yet ready to make important decisions such as his sexuality. The murky waters of the lake represent the mysteries of life; Toby has tested the water out but is not going to throw himself in until he is certain. His ability to swim is also symbolic of the fact that he can cope with situations that face him; likewise, the aquatic nun who comes to the rescue of Catherine and Dora. She has learnt to live a purely religious life. Dora cannot swim at the beginning of the novel, she is drowning in Paul's restrictive power, however by the end she has learnt to live without him and take control of her own life. By contrast, Catherine is never able to come to terms with her feelings for Michael, resulting in her near death experience by drowning. There are other significant examples of symbolism. When Michael is in the chapel and describes the singing of the nuns as â€Å"hideous purity† this symbolises the struggle between sex and religion which is taking place inside him. It is because of this conflict that he finds their singing repulsive, as they have what he wants but knows he will never get; a truly religious life. Catherine is in a similar position, therefore it is perhaps significant that they both have the same dream about the drowning nun. There is ironic symbolism in the name of Dora's lover, Noel Spens. Noel is a very Christian name but he speaks out strongly against religion. He believes that it misguides people and places unfair restrictions on their lives. Dora's changing musical tastes are also significant. At the beginning when they hold an evening of Bach's music, Dora dislikes this as she finds it too structured and formal. She much prefers listening to Noel's jazz music, with its jungle rhythms and exuberant style. However by the end of the novel we are told that she has taken an interest in listening to Mozart. This is representative of the change from chaos to order in her life in general. She learns to take control of her life and not let Paul repress her. Initially she describes marriage as being â€Å"enclosed in the aims of another†. She is scared of Paul's physical power and will follow his orders to the letter. She is like the butterfly trapped on the train. Toby saves her from his restrictiveness by allowing her to rediscover her youth. He releases her. At the same time Dora saves Toby from being trapped in a relationship with Michael by allowing him to realise that he is not homosexual. There are many conflicts within this novel, the majority of which relate in some way to that existing between sex and religion. It is its destructive nature which makes this conflict so dark and I would argue that it is a conflict that can never truly be resolved. We do see different kinds of conflict as I have discussed but these do not play such a central role in the novel.

Laughter essays

Laughter essays If you look up laughter in the Dictionary it will tell you that it is a movement (usually involuntary) of the muscles of the face, particularly of the lips, with a peculiar expression of the eyes, indicating merriment, satisfaction, or derision, and usually attended by a sonorous and interrupted expulsion of air from the lungs. The Keyword here is involuntary; usually laughter occurs for no reason and sometimes it does. The first type of laughter is the kind that you do out of happiness. This usually occurs when you hear something humorous or see something that is humorous. It comes almost as an instinct, you dont see or hear something that is funny and then think to yourself, oh this is a funny statement and I should laugh at it. This comes almost like a reflex. Sometimes even when people are angry and someone says something to cheer them up and no matter how hard they try not to laugh a smile creeps up on them. The second kind of laugh is the nervous laugh. This is the less common laugh, it occurs when you want to relieve a tense or stressful situation, basically it means that it is a laugh out of desperation. For example if your parents find out that you did something and they ask you and they really know what you did and you dont know that they know it makes it harder to get out of this situation, you know you are cornered and you manage a fake nervous laugh to make them go easy on you. This can be a very stressful laugh and it is better if this never occurs. ...