Essay on Mother as Villain and Victim in Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club

Mother as Villain and Victim in Joy Luck Club      Ã‚  Ã‚   In The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan focuses on several mother-daughter relationships. One of the relationships explored is that between an immigrant Chinese mother and her American born daughter Jing-mei.   The mother expects Jing-mei to be a prodigy child - while pursuing this dream she unintentionally creates a serious conflict between her and her daughter.    To fulfill her unrealistic expectations, the mother pushes Jing-mei to be the best in anything and everything. At first, the reader may perceive the mother as the villain in the story; however, the mother just wants her daughter to have the life that she never had. Jing-mei does not understand her intentions.    Jing-mei's mother thought opportunity was everywhere in America, "America was where all my mother's hopes lay" (Tan 1208). The mother lost everything when she moved from China to San Francisco in 1949. In China she lost her family, her spouse, and she had to abandon her twin baby girls (Tan 1208). This implies that her mother had a difficult life and wanted to start a new life in America.    Unfamiliar with the customs of America, she had been brought up in a strict Chinese culture. Her mother probably raised her the same way, and therefore, that is where she learned her parenting skills. The Chinese life is strict, more so than the American life, and that was the only way the mother knew how to raise her daughter. The mother seemed to be the villain in the story, but she was only trying to be the caring parent the best way she knew how. She only wanted her daughter to be the best, but a conflict started when the daughter failed to meet her expectations.    In the beginning Jing-mei, th... ...he wanted to see her daughter become something better than what she had become. Instead of encouraging her daughter to become someone who she wanted to be, she ends up pushing her in the wrong direction. I think that Jing-mei finally realized why her mother did what she did. I agree with Ghymn when she states that "Jing-mei does care deeply what her mother thinks of her" (84). It is obvious that even though they were two kinds from two different cultures they still found forgiveness in the end.    Work Cited Souris, Stephen. "'Only Two Kinds of Daughters:'" Inter-Monologue Dialogicity in The Joy Luck Club." Melus 19.2 (Summer 1994):99-123. Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. Vintage Contemporaries. New York: A Division of Random House, Inc. 1993. Willard, Nancy. Asian American Women Writers. Ed. Harold Bloom. Chelsea House Publishers, Philadelphia 1997.

The Indigo Spell Chapter Fifteen

MS. TERWILLIGER WAS WAITING in the lobby when Julia and I returned to the dorm. â€Å"Seriously. Do you have a tracking device on me?† I asked. Julia took one look at our teacher's serious expression and quickly made an exit. â€Å"Just excellent timing,† Ms. Terwilliger replied. â€Å"I understand you have news.† â€Å"Surprisingly, yes.† Ms. Terwilliger's face was hard as she led me back outside to more privacy and yet another top secret outdoor meeting. These days, she hardly resembled the scattered, hippie teacher I'd met when I first started at Amberwood. â€Å"Tell me the news,† she ordered. I told her about Alicia's call, and her dismayed expression didn't really inspire me. I'd kind of hoped she'd reveal some amazing, foolproof plan she'd secretly been concocting. â€Å"Well, then,† she said once I'd finished. â€Å"I suppose I'll have to go out there.† â€Å"I'll go out there,† I corrected. She favored me with a small smile. â€Å"You've done more than enough. It's time I step up and deal with Veronica.† â€Å"But you sent me to that place before.† â€Å"When we weren't even sure where it was or what she was doing there. This time, we have an eyewitness confirming she's there right now. I can't waste this opportunity.† She glanced at a clock near the door and sighed. â€Å"I'd go tonight if I could but haven't made the necessary preparations. I'll start working on them now and go in tomorrow evening. Hopefully I won't miss her again.† â€Å"No.† The defiance in my voice surprised even me. I didn't contradict teachers – or any kind of authority – very often. Okay, never. â€Å"She eluded us before. Let us scout it out. You don't want to tip your hand yet, just in case something goes wrong. You'll be ready tomorrow night? Then let us go in the day . . . I mean, provided someone could get me out of school. . . .† A little of that tension faded, and she laughed. â€Å"I suppose I could do that. I hate that I keep putting you in danger, though.† â€Å"We passed that point a long time ago.† She couldn't argue against that logic. I made arrangements for Adrian to pick me up the next day – after first scolding â€Å"Jet† for giving out â€Å"Taylor's† number. When morning came, Ms. Terwilliger was true to her word. I'd been excused from classes for a â€Å"research trip.† The thing about being a star pupil was that none of my teachers had any problems with me skipping classes. They knew I'd get the work done. I probably could've taken the rest of the semester off. During the drive, I told Adrian that I'd managed to score a trip to St. Louis in order to pursue Marcus's daunting task. Adrian's expression grew darker and darker, but he stayed silent on the matter. I knew what a conflict it was for him. He didn't like Marcus. He didn't like me taking on this potentially dangerous mission. However, he also trusted me to make my own decisions. Contradicting me or telling me what to do wasn't in his nature – even though he secretly may have wanted to. His only comment was one of support. â€Å"Be careful, Sage. For God's sake, be careful. I've seen you pull off some crazy shit, but this is extreme, even for you. You're probably the only one who can manage this, but still . . . don't let your guard down, even for a moment.† When I told him about how I was hoping to use Ian to get more in-depth access, Adrian's troubled look turned to one of incredulity. â€Å"Hold on here. Let me make sure I'm following this. You're going to seduce some guy to help you with your espionage.† Seduce Ian? Ugh. â€Å"Don't jump to conclusions,† I warned. â€Å"I'm just going to try to use his feelings for me to get what I want.† â€Å"Wow. Cold, Sage. Very cold.† â€Å"Hey, now.† I felt a little indignant at the accusation. â€Å"I'm not going to promise to marry him or something and then dump him later. He wrote me about going to dinner when I'm there. We'll have a nice time, and I'll try to talk him into letting me tour the facility. That's it.† â€Å"And ‘talking him into it' doesn't involve putting out?† I glared at him and hoped he could see me in his periphery. â€Å"Adrian. Do I really seem like the kind of person who'd do that?† â€Å"Well – † He stopped, and I suspected he'd held back from some snarky comment. â€Å"No, I suppose not. Certainly not with a guy like him. Did you get a dress?† Here we were again, Adrian randomly jumping topics. â€Å"For dinner and the service? I've got plenty.† â€Å"I guess that answers my question.† He seemed to wage a great mental battle. At last, he said, â€Å"I'm going to give you some advice.† â€Å"Oh no.† He looked over at me again. â€Å"Who knows more about male weakness: you or me?† â€Å"Go on.† I refused to directly answer the question. â€Å"Get a new dress. One that shows a lot of skin. Short. Strapless. Maybe a push-up bra too.† He actually had the audacity to do a quick assessment of my chest. â€Å"Eh, maybe not. But definitely some high heels.† â€Å"Adrian,† I exclaimed. â€Å"You've seen how Alchemists dress. Do you think I can really wear something like that into a church service?† He was unconcerned. â€Å"You'll make it work. You'll change clothes or something. But I'm telling you, if you want to get a guy to do something that might be difficult, then the best way is to distract him so that he can't devote his full brainpower to the consequences.† â€Å"You don't have a lot of faith in your own gender.† â€Å"Hey, I'm telling you the truth. I've been distracted by sexy dresses a lot.† I didn't really know if that was a valid argument, seeing as Adrian was distracted by a lot of things. Fondue. T-shirts. Kittens. â€Å"And so, what then? I show some skin, and the world is mine?† â€Å"That'll help.† Amazingly, I could tell he was dead serious. â€Å"And you've gotta act confident the whole time, like it's already a done deal. Then make sure when you're actually asking for what you want that you tell him you'd be ‘so, so grateful.' But don't elaborate. His imagination will do half the work for you. â€Å" I shook my head, glad we'd almost reached our destination. I didn't know how much more I could listen to. â€Å"This is the most ridiculous advice I've ever heard. It's also kind of sexist too, but I can't decide who it offends more, men or women.† â€Å"Look, Sage. I don't know much about chemistry or computer hacking or photosynthery but this is something I've got a lot of experience with.† I think he meant photosynthesis, but I didn't correct him. â€Å"Use my knowledge. Don't let it go to waste.† He seemed so earnest that I finally told him I'd consider it, though I had a hard time imagining myself wearing anything like he'd described. My answer satisfied him, and he said no more. When we reached the bed-and-breakfast, I put on the brown wig so that we could be Taylor and Jet again. I braced myself as we approached the door. â€Å"Who knows what we're walking into?† I murmured. I'd been very brave while speaking to Ms. Terwilliger, but the reality that I might be going right up to an evil sorceress was sinking in. I had yet to develop the ability to sense magic in others, so I could very well be taken by surprise if she had a way to hide her appearance too. All I could do was have faith that Adrian's spirit and Ms. Terwilliger's charm would mask me. If Veronica was there, we'd just seem like an ordinary couple. I hoped. Alicia was reading another magazine when we walked in. She still sported the same hipster glasses and clutter of gaudy necklaces. Her face lit up when she saw us. â€Å"You're back.† Adrian's arm immediately went around me. â€Å"Well, when we heard Veronica was in town again, we wanted to come see her right away. Right, honeydew?† â€Å"Right,† I said. At least he was going with healthier nicknames today. â€Å"Oh.† Alicia's sunny smile dimmed a little. â€Å"She just left.† â€Å"You have got to be kidding,† I said. How could our luck be this bad? â€Å"So, she checked out?† â€Å"No, she's still renting out the Velvet Suite. I think she was just running errands. But. . . .† She turned sheepish. â€Å"I may have, uh, ruined the surprise.† â€Å"Oh?† I asked very carefully. I felt Adrian's hold on me tense, but there was nothing romantic about it. â€Å"I couldn't resist. I told her she might have some unexpected visitors soon. Good visitors,† she added. â€Å"I wanted to make sure she didn't stay out too long.† â€Å"That's very nice of you,† said Adrian. His smile looked as strained as mine felt. In trying to â€Å"help† us, Alicia might very well have ruined everything. What did we do now? I was saved from an immediate decision when a middle-aged woman walked through the door. â€Å"Hello,† she told Alicia. â€Å"I wanted to get some information about hosting a wedding here. For my niece.† â€Å"Of course,† said Alicia, glancing back and forth between all of us. She looked a little flustered over who to help, and I was quick to jump in. â€Å"Hey,† I said. â€Å"Since we're here, can we look at the Bunny Suite again? We can't stop talking about it.† Alicia frowned. â€Å"I thought you were going to the coast for your anniversary?† â€Å"We were,† said Adrian, following my lead. â€Å"But then Taylor was thinking about Cottontail the other night, and we thought we should reconsider.† I had to give him credit for jumping in and going along with the story I was making up on the spot. Of course, you'd think he'd remember the name of the fake rabbit he had created. â€Å"Hopper,† I corrected. â€Å"Is the Bunny Suite still vacant?† he asked. â€Å"We can just take a quick peek in while you help her.† Alicia hesitated only a moment before handing over a key. â€Å"Sure. Let me know if you have any questions.† I took the key and headed toward the stairs with Adrian. Behind us, I could hear the woman asking if it'd be okay to set up a tent in the backyard and how many hot plates the inn could hold before it became a fire hazard. Once we were on the second floor and out of earshot, Adrian spoke. â€Å"Let me guess. You want to go prowl through the Velvet Suite.† I rewarded him with a grin, pleased that he'd guessed my plan. â€Å"Yup. Pretty good idea, huh? Hopefully Alicia will be distracted for a while.† â€Å"I could have just compelled her,† he reminded me. â€Å"You're using too much spirit already.† I found the Velvet Suite and put the key in the lock, hoping Alicia had given us the master key and not one specifically for the Bunny Suite. When she had shown us around last time, she'd only used one key. A click told me we'd lucked out and wouldn't have to use any metal-burning chemicals today. We'd seen the Velvet Suite during our last visit, and for the most part, it looked the same. Velvet bedding, velvet-covered furniture, and even velvet-textured wallpaper. Only, this time, the room wasn't in the pristine and unoccupied state as before. Signs around the room showed recent use. The bed was unmade, and the scent of shampoo from the bathroom indicated a shower not too long ago. â€Å"Alicia might have been wrong about Veronica checking out,† said Adrian. He opened drawer after drawer and found nothing. In the closet, he discovered high-heeled shoes tucked into a corner and a belt on a hanger – things that might be easily missed with frantic packing. â€Å"Someone left here in a hurry.† My hopes plummeted. In accidentally revealing our â€Å"surprise,† Alicia had apparently scared Veronica into skipping out on the room. We found no sign that Veronica would actually return, and as Adrian had said, she seemed to have taken off quickly, based on the kinds of easy-to-forget things that were left behind: a razor in the shower, a bottle of perfume on the bathroom counter, and a stack of takeout menus on the nightstand. I sat on the bed and sifted through the menus, not really convinced they'd tell me much. Chinese, Indian, Mexican. Veronica had diverse tastes, at least. I reached the bottom of the stack and threw them on the ground. â€Å"She left,† I said. I couldn't hide from the truth any longer. â€Å"That idiot Alicia tipped her off, and now we've lost her again.† Adrian sat down beside me, his face mirroring my dismay. â€Å"We'll find her. We've slowed her down by hiding the others. Maybe it'll buy us time until the next full moon so you can scry again.† â€Å"I hope so,† I said, though I wasn't optimistic. He brushed aside the wig's hair and turned my face toward him. â€Å"Everything's going to be okay. She doesn't know about you.† I knew he was right, but it was hollow comfort. I leaned my head against his shoulder, wishing I could fix everything. That was my job, right? â€Å"All that means is that someone else could suffer in my place. I don't want that. I need to stop her once and for all.† â€Å"So brave.† He gave me a small smile. His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of goose bumps appeared. How did he keep doing this to me? Marcus – who made every girl in the world swoon – had zero effect on me. But one whisper of a touch from Adrian completely undid me. â€Å"You could give Castile a run for his money,† he added. â€Å"Stop that,† I warned. â€Å"Comparing you to Castile?† â€Å"That's not what I'm talking about, and you know it.† His hands were too dangerous, as was being with him on a bed. Terrified I might be kissed again, I jerked away, and the sudden movement caught him by surprise. His fingers got tangled in my hair, as well as in my two necklaces, which resulted in him snapping both chains and nearly pulling off the brown wig. I quickly caught the garnet before it could fall off, but the cross slipped away. Thank God I'd kept the important one on. â€Å"No more kissing,† I warned. I refastened the charm and straightened the wig. â€Å"You mean no more kissing unless it's a romantic place,† he reminded me. â€Å"Are you saying this place doesn't scream romance?† He nodded around to our tacky velvet surroundings. He then picked up the small cross and held it in the air, growing thoughtful as he studied the way the light played off the gold surface. â€Å"You gave this to me once.† â€Å"And you gave it back.† â€Å"I was angry.† â€Å"And now?† He shrugged. â€Å"Now I'm just determined.† â€Å"Adrian.† I sighed. â€Å"Why do you keep doing this? The touching . . . the kissing . . . you know I don't want it.† â€Å"You don't act that way.† â€Å"Stop saying that. It's obnoxious. Next you'll be saying I'm ‘asking for it.'† Why did he have to be so infuriating? Okay . . . I hadn't really sent a clear message back at the sorority. Or Pies and Stuff. But this time I'd done better. â€Å"I just pulled away. How much more direct do I have to be?† â€Å"It's not your actions, exactly† he said. He still clutched the cross in his hand. â€Å"It's your aura.† I groaned. â€Å"No, no, not that. I don't want to hear about auras.† â€Å"But I'm serious.† He shifted over and stretched out on the bed, lying on his side. He patted the bed near him. â€Å"Lie down.† â€Å"Adrian – â€Å" â€Å"I won't kiss you,† he said. â€Å"I promise.† â€Å"How stupid do you think I am?† I said. â€Å"I'm not falling for this.† He gave me a long, level look. â€Å"Do you really think I'd assault you or something?† â€Å"No,† I said quickly. â€Å"Of course not.† â€Å"Then humor me.† Warily, I lay down on my side as well, facing him with only a few powerful inches between us. An enraptured, slightly distracted look appeared in his eyes. He'd given himself over to spirit. â€Å"Do you know what I see in you now? The usual aura. A steady golden yellow, healthy and strong, with spikes of purple here and there. But when I do this. . . .† He rested a hand on my hip, and my whole body tensed up. That hand moved around my hip, slipping under my shirt to rest on the small of my back. My skin burned where he touched me, and the places that were untouched longed for that heat. â€Å"See?† he said. He was in the throes of spirit now, though with me at the same time. â€Å"Well, I guess you can't. But when I touch you, your aura . . . it smolders. The colors deepen, it burns more intensely, the purple increases. Why? Why, Sydney?† He used that hand on me to pull me closer. â€Å"Why do you react that way if I don't mean anything to you?† There was a desperation in his voice, and it was legitimate. It was hard for me to talk. â€Å"It's instinct. Or something. You're a Moroi. I'm an Alchemist. Of course I'd have a response. You think I'd be indifferent?† â€Å"Most Alchemist responses would involve disgust, revulsion, and holy water.† That was an excellent point. â€Å"Well . . . I'm a little more relaxed around Moroi than most Alchemists. Probably this is just some purely physical response driven by hormones and years of evolution. My body doesn't know any better. I'm as susceptible to lust as anyone else.† There was probably a book about that or at least an article in Cosmopolitan. The hint of a smile played over his lips. He was fully in tune with me again. â€Å"No, you aren't. I mean, you are, but not without reason. I know you well enough to realize that now. You're not the kind of person who's ‘susceptible to lust' without some emotion to back it.† He moved his hand back to my hip, sliding it down my leg. I shuddered, and his face moved closer to mine. There was so much in his eyes, so much desire and longing. â€Å"See? There it is again. My flame in the dark.† â€Å"Don't kiss me,† I whispered. It was the only defense I could muster. If he kissed me, I'd be lost. I closed my eyes. â€Å"You said you wouldn't.† â€Å"I won't.† His lips were only a breath away. â€Å"Unless you want me to.† I opened my eyes, ready to tell him no, that it didn't matter what my aura allegedly said . . . this couldn't keep happening. There was no emotion backing this desire, and I tried to cling to my earlier argument. I was so comfortable around Moroi now that clearly some primal part of me kept forgetting what he was. This was a base instinct. I was simply having a physical reaction to him, to his hands, to his lips, to his body. . . . He caught hold of my arm and rolled me over. I closed my eyes again and wrapped my arms around his neck. I felt his lips touch mine, not quite a kiss, just the barest brush of – The door opened, and I flinched. Alicia stepped inside, gasped, and put a hand up over her mouth to cover a shocked squeal. â€Å"O-oh,† she stammered. â€Å"I'm so sorry . . . I . . . I didn't realize . . .† Adrian and I jerked away and sat up. My heart was ready to beat out of my chest, and I knew I was blushing. I quickly patted my wig and was relieved to feel it was still in place. He recovered his voice more quickly. â€Å"Sorry . . . we kind of got carried away. We started checking out the other rooms and decided to, uh, try them out.† Despite his sheepish words, there was a smug look on his face, the kind you'd expect from a guy who'd just made a conquest. Was it part of the act, or did he really think he'd gotten away with something? Alicia looked as uncomfortable as I felt. â€Å"I see. Well, this room's occupied. It's – † She frowned and did a double take. â€Å"It's Veronica's. It looks like she left.† I finally managed to speak. â€Å"That's why we thought it was empty,† I said hastily. â€Å"There was nothing in here.† Alicia thankfully seemed to have forgotten about our compromising position. â€Å"That's weird. She didn't formally check out. I mean, she paid in advance in cash, but still. It's so strange.† We made a hurried escape of our own after that, once again feeding Alicia lines about how we'd be in touch. Neither of us spoke much when we got in the car. I was lost in my own thoughts, which were equal parts frustration over Veronica and confusion over Adrian. I refused to acknowledge the latter, though, and opted for my usual tactic. The sooner that moment was forgotten, the better. I was pretty sure I could keep telling myself that. Some part of me – nearly as snarky as Adrian – suggested I pick up a book on denial the next time I was in the self-help section. â€Å"Another dead end,† I said once we were on the road. I texted Ms. Terwilliger: V's gone. No need for action. Her response came a few minutes later: We'll keep trying. I could practically feel her disappointment through the display on my phone. She wasn't the only one. Adrian seemed particularly melancholy on the drive back. He responded whenever I spoke, but it was clear he was distracted. When he dropped me off at Amberwood later that night, I found everything mercifully quiet. No crises, no dangerous missions. It felt like it had been ages since I had a moment to myself, and I curled up on my bed, taking solace in the ordinary tasks of homework and reading. I fell asleep with my face on my calculus book. I experienced one of those nonsensical dreams that everyone has. In it, my family's cat could talk, and he was driving Adrian's Mustang. He asked me if I wanted to take a road trip to Birmingham. I told him I had a lot of homework to do but that if he wanted to go to Fargo, I'd consider it. We were in the middle of negotiating who'd pay for gas when the dream suddenly dissolved to blackness. A cold feeling swept over me, followed by a feeling of dread that rivaled the time Adrian and I had faced down Strigoi in his apartment. A woman's laughter rolled around me, foul and sickening, like some sort of toxic smoke. A voice came out of the darkness, echoing in my mind. She's kept you well hidden, but it can't stay that way forever. You can't conceal power like yours forever. I've caught your trail. I'll find you. Hands suddenly reached out of the darkness for me, wrapping around my throat and cutting off my air. I screamed and woke up in my own bed, surrounded in books. I'd left the light on, and it chased some of the dream's terror away. But only some. Sweat poured off me, making my shirt stick to me. I touched my neck, but there was nothing wrong with it. The garnet hung in place but not my cross. No need to fear a dream, I thought. It didn't mean anything, and really, with everything going on lately, it was a wonder I didn't have nightmares more often. But thinking back on it, I wasn't so sure. There had been something so terrible and real about it, a horror that seemed to reach into my very soul. I didn't want to sleep after that, so I made a cup of coffee and tried to read again. It worked for a while, but somewhere around four, my body couldn't take it anymore. I fell asleep on my books again, but this time, my sleep stayed dream free.

Christopher McCandless Rebellious, Suicidal Narcissist

Transcendentalism is a religious, philosophical, literary, and social movement of the nineteenth century. Essentially, this movement was based upon the ideals of the â€Å"sixth sense,† nature, and non-conformity, as well as individualism, intuition, idealism, imagination, and inspiration. A few of the works featured in the transcendental unit include Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Song of Myself by Walt Whitman, and Walden by Ralph Waldo Emerson. The primary focus of this essay is to provide an opinion on a strikingly debatable topic; Whether or not Christopher McCandless, hero of Krakauer’s Into the Wild, was a true transcendentalist. Despite the bold actions of Chris McCandless on his daring Alaskan odyssey, he turned out to be far from a true transcendentalist, failing to meet the definition of transcendentalism, being solely concerned with himself, and acting out of revenge rather than seeking self discovery - nothing more than a childish suicidal rebel. To begin with, McCandless did not present the slightest interest in religion. An issue is created here due to the fact that religion was a large portion of the transcendental movement. Transcendentalists believed that there is a unity between nature and God; That one may discover God through immersing themselves in nature. They also held the belief that God is present in each individual; That humans as a whole form God because a fragment of Him is within each human being. Christopher McCandless did not share these beliefs.

Is Global Skepticism Justified Essay - 1625 Words

Is Global Skepticism Justified? Introduction Skepticism is something that we all have to one degree or another. Some of us who carry some Limited (Local) Skepticism might question whether we can really know if the news anchor is giving us correct information or if the five day forecast is really on track this time regarding the rain it is predicting. Others subscribe to the Global Skepticism view; that is, they would argue that we cannot know anything at all, and, therefore, we can’t have knowledge of anything (Feldman 109). As a global skeptic, we would not only challenge the same things that limited skeptics confront, but we would challenge the very essence of our being. If this form of skepticism is valid, we would have to reexamine†¦show more content†¦Could this be convincing enough to lead us to believe that we really could have knowledge of anything at all? Problem Being Solved This paper will address the problem of skepticism. My focus will be exclusively on Global Skepticism as it is more controversial than Local Skepticism. The stance I am seeking to persuade you to take is one regarding the question of whether or not Global Skepticism is justified. In this paper I will discuss and analyze what other philosophers have said about the topic, my argument, how my opponents might object to my arguments, and how I respond to those objections. My hope is the conclusion to my argument will convince you that Global Skepticism is not justified and we can, in fact, come to ‘know’ things about our reality and obtain knowledge. What others have said about the topic I mentioned Rene Descartes earlier in my writing and want to unpack his thinking a little more. In â€Å"Meditation on the First Philosophy,† Descartes starts to question whether he can really tell the difference between being asleep and being awake. He says the following: â€Å"Let us then suppose* that we are dreaming, and that these particular things (that we have our eyes open, are moving our head, stretching out our hands) are not true; and that perhaps we do not even have hands or the rest of a body like what we see. It must nonetheless be admitted that the things we see in sleep are, so to speak, paintedShow MoreRelatedGlobal Epistemological Skepticism Essay1132 Words   |  5 Pages Epistemological skepticism is the idea that individuals lack knowledge or justification for a specific group of propositions (Barnett, 2014). Skepticism with respect to all propositions is known as global skepticism, and it reveals that knowledge is nonexistent (2014). The regress problem is a difficulty in epistemology, where an idea has to be justified, because the justification itself has to have further reasoning (2014). 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Impact Of Social Media On Business Essay - 1288 Words

2014 reflects a drastic change in the direction of social media. Now, more than ever, consumers are wary of businesses and advertisements. As a result, the trust falls to a third party – a brand or person who is not affiliated with the company receiving the promotion. What does that mean for your business? Businesses are encouraged to become their consumers’ friends, chatting about a product or something related, in a manner that is non-threatening, and even enjoyable. The most effective way for a business, no matter the size, to accomplish this is through being present on most or all social media platforms. More than ever, social media is crucial to access more consumers online. So if this is the case, why are businesses still reluctant to gravitate to establishing their brand online? SONY DSC Who uses Social Media? The reality is that everyone uses social media. Yes, everyone. Every demographic you can imagine, they use it. And they’re not just logging on, they are actively participating. Data shows that 35% of Americans check brand pages daily as part of their social media, as stated by Radiate Media. Click to Tweet. What is it? Social Media used to be online platforms with specific niches where friends came to connect – now it is used heavily by consumers who want to interact with brands and are willing consumers by choice, active in participation. Usually forms of communication, where people post photos, videos, text, and other media, it is also used very heavilyShow MoreRelatedSocial Media And Its Impact On Business1641 Words   |  7 Pagesof and use social media they only think of it from a personal view. However, more and more companies have discovered that this electronic network can be used for business purposes as well. Social media can provide a platform for companies to share knowledge and opinions, and announce information to their audience of followers. 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Identify Marks and Spencers market position and de Essay Example For Students

Identify Marks and Spencers market position and de Essay termine why they nearly collapsedIdentify Marks and Spencers market position and determine why they nearly collapsedIntroductionMarks Spencer is one of the UKs foremost retailers of clothing, foods, homeware and financial services, boasting a weekly customer base of 10 million in over 300 UK stores. Marks ; Spencer operate in 30 countries worldwide, and has a group turnover in excess of 8 billion. It has specific values, missions and visions. Its main vision is to be the standard against which all others are measured, its main mission is to make aspirational quality accessible to all, and its main values are quality, service, innovation and trust. (www.marksandspencer.co Did You Ever Wonder Where And Why We Live The Way We Do? With The Goal EssayMarks and Spencer are also making big changes in their childrenswear department. They have always applied strict safety testing and have the best quality childrens clothing on the market, and if improved can become very successful as the fol lowing quote outlines:I think the biggest threat to the retail scene at the moment is Marks and Spencer. Marks and Spencer is very interesting. They have suffered recently but I think theyre more of a threat if they get their act together and get things right in childrens clothing they could make a huge difference much bigger than any foreign retailers entering the marketplace. Source: MintelIn addition, Childrenswear is keen to involve personalities who are fans of Marks ; Spencer, so Marks and Spencer were delighted in February 2002 to sign David Beckham, a real style icon and role model, to help with their boyswear range. The first products arrived in stores in September 2002, and David Beckham himself has starred in adverts promoting the DB07 clotheswear range. Many of Marks and Spencers marketing activities since 1998 can be defined using Ansoffs matrix. This provides a useful framework for identifying alternative strategies based on products and markets. Although it does not focus specifically on the way in which competitive advantages are gained, it does help businesses such as Marks and Spencer to consider the different options available to them in terms of growth strategies. Each section of the Ansoff Matrix shall now be defined and adapted to Marks and Spencer where believed to be necessary:Market PenetrationThis involves selling more of the same product to the same customers, much like Marks and Spencer have been with the menswear clothing range. This strategy involves increased usage by encouraging customers to use a product more frequently i.e. loyalty bonuses. Product DevelopmentThis involved the development of new products for existing customers, i.e. the David Beckham range of clotheswear for children. Also the Blue Harbour and Classics range from Marks and Spencer. Market DevelopmentThis is the process of developing new markets for existing products. This can be achieved by targeting new segments or entering new geographical markets, as evident when Marks and Spencer brought 120 skilled jobs to the garment industry in Northern Ireland. DiversificationThis is seen as a risky strategy. It introduces new products to new markets. The level of risk is affected by the extent to which the new strategy is related or unrelated to existing business. This proves that things are looking promising for Marks and Spencer, they have bright ideas that are coming into place and are becoming recognised again due to the infiltration of famous faces such as David Beckham and granting him his own clothing range. Their marketing focus is on their clothing range which is probably the right idea due to competitors such as Tesco introducing their own clothing range. To incorporate their own style and image is something their competitors cannot comprehend to, so this is a huge step in the right direction for Marks and Spencers. ConclusionTo conclude, Marks and Spencers obviously suffered from the period of decline. The fall in profits proved this and they were made to count the costs. In fairness though, they have bounced back and are pushing towards the market position they were always proud to hold, at the very top in their sector. This is evident with the new clothing range they have released and the capture of a household name such as David Beckham, they are heading for the top again. The SWOT analysis outlined the problems they faced and the opportunities they had to come back, but as you have read, they have outlined a major focus on their clothing range since 1998, and the profits are starting to come in again. With the Zip, Blue Harbour and Classics range of clothing, they have a vast array of clothing lines to offer new and existing customers. Things can only go up for Marks and Spencer after the disarray of 1998, and if current evidence is anything to go by, they are certainly heading in the right direction. This audit has given a clear view of the problems that were faced and how they have overcome these problems and what the future has in store for Marks and Spencer in terms of marketing. Total Word Count (Excluding SWOT Analysis, Diagrams, Quotes and References) : 2498 wordsReferencesOwww.marksandspencer.co.ukOwww.mintel.comODavidson, H 1997, 1st Ed, Even More Offensive Marketing, Penguin Books, St IvesOFill, C, 2002 Marketing Communications Contents, Concepts and Strategies, Prentice HallODrummond and Ensor, Strategic Marketing Management, p. 149, Butterworth HeinemannOJoisce, Ted Lecture Notes for Marketing Planning and Marketing CommunicationsOMeek, H ; Ensor, J, p. 150, Strategic Marketing Management: Planning and Control, 2001, Butterworth Heinemann, OxfordOPiercy, N 1997, 2nd Ed. Market-Led Strategic Change Transforming the Process of going to Market, p. 27, Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford)OWelsh, CEO of General Electric adapted from Relationship Marketing Lecture Notes, 21/10/2002

Top 100 Persuasive Essay Topics to Help You Get Started

Our life is all about words. It is an essential part of communication, and human relationships.Daily Mail has recently posted an article that supports the idea that women say around 20,000 words a day, while men only say 7,000. According to Rob Hoskins and his article on One Hope, people read around 54,000 words a day either when searching for information or when scrolling through their social newsfeed. So, the words are everywhere regardless of whether you notice it or not. The only question is what effect these words have on people. What percentage of everything we say convince people to do our way? How can one make others follow him using only his words? The power of words is often underestimated. We can do real wonders with them. That is why, colleges and schools teach students how to speak convincingly and use the huge amount of words spoken daily in a right way. Pieces in which someone is trying to convince the others in the correctness of his ideas are called "persuasive essays." What makes a good persuasive essay? There are only a few things that define whether an essay you are working on will be a good one. Among them are: Proper grammar. It is hard (and even painful at times) to listen to someone using poor grammar. Why would someone neglect these rules considering the availability of different means to learn how to speak correctly? Besides, the lack of proper grammar makes the listeners lose respect to the speaker. You don't want to play with that, right? Correct structure. There are rules that explain how a proper persuasive essay must look like. It must start with a bright opening, continue with a couple of paragraphs that all talk about the same point but from different angles, and end with a conclusion. This structure is not merely a whim but rather a smart way of leading the readers to your final point step by step. Solid evidence. When given a task to create an essay, you need to remember that evidence is what matters. So, do not argue round and round the subject but rather proceed straight to the main point itself. This way you won't be viewed as a chatter-box but as a reliable speaker. You cannot jump from one point to the other. Stick to the general flow of your essay, and remember to move smoothly from one paragraph using transitions. So many things are said every day that it is almost impossible to say something creative and innovative. That is why, content that is original is valued above all. Think out-of-the-box and be creative to persuade your audience. Now, as we are on the same page about what makes a good essay, let's focus on what topics one can write about. We have divided the topics into several groups to make it easier to find the one you actually want to talk about. So, if you are experiencing troubles coming up with a good theme for the persuasive essay, just grab one of ours and create an outstanding piece using our tips mentioned above! College persuasive essay topics Should we stop using belts when driving? Should students get paid for good grades? Should people go to jail for using their smartphones while driving? Should there be an age restrictions on registering in the social media? Should higher education be free for all the students? Why should student athletes be getting the scholarship? Should the factories be fined for emitting the fumes? Should students be granted a right to have guns on the campus? Should school days start later? Should students enter the universities right away or after taking a break from school? These are pretty good topics, but if you don't find them interesting enough or they do not match your age, keep reading. Persuasive essay topics for middle school Should there be fast food vendors in the campus? Should schools ban uniforms? Should middle schoolers get less work? Should the school ban students from bringing smartphones to class? Should students working on the school newspaper be paid? Should cheating be punished harsher? Should middle schoolers committing crimes be punished as adults? Should there be some belt on the school buses for better safety? Should students be the ones choosing their school menu? Should PE classes at school be obligatory? Another list of topics, but we have much more other themes to talk about. Keep scrolling. Persuasive essay topics for high school? Should giving pocket money to children be mandatory in all families? When should children be viewed as grownups? Do children watch too much TV? What should be the minimum wage for students working part-time? Should public transportation be free for students and elderly? Should working students get less homework? Should all people be vaccinated? What types of sports should be banned on campuses? Should drinking be strictly controlled on the campus? Should there be a restriction on the age of children living with parents? Funny persuasive essay topics Why should all zookeepers be vegetarians? Why should you be the teacher instead of your teacher? Why is it not true that blondes are stupid? Why should not you blame your horoscope when something goes wrong? Should computer games be added to your academic curriculum? Why should not your parents register on Facebook? Should bigger people be made to purchase several tickets when traveling? Should hats be banned from being worn when in the malls to prevent crimes? Why should people be allowed to steal when they are hungry? Why should only work four days a week, and not five? If these topics did not give you a good laugh, then check out other great option by leading essay writers. Great persuasive essays What punishments should be applied for bullying? Should children be paid for doing chores at home? Should army service be obligatory? Should sweets be banned from selling on the campus? Should adult video stores be open for high school students? Should birth control methods be available to students without parents' consent? Should schools provide students with free condoms as safety measures? Should religion studies be taught at school? Should students be tested for drugs at school? Should school control students' social life? Topical issues Should be schools be constantly under military protection to prevent terroristic acts? Should taxis have free Wi-Fi? Should students be able to listen to music during classes? Should school days start with prayers? Should schools have the Halls of Honor? Should students be allowed to teach classes for elementary school children and get paid? Should marijuana be banned from using in medical institutions? Should medical care be free for everyone? Should immigrants be paid the social financial support? Should people smoking in the public places be punished? Persuasive speech topics Is sexual orientation a choice or a genetical issue? Should capital punishment be allowed? Should euthanasia be banned? Should prisoners be allowed to vote? Why should people in prison be made to work for the state? Should people be punished for committing the literary theft? Should the age when people are allowed to drink be increased? Should same-sex couples be allowed to adopt? Is electroshock device a weapon? Should children be punished physically? Popular topics Should the tortures in prisons be forbidden? Should women pursue higher education? Should parents be certified first to have children? Should biological weapons be banned? Should there be equal amount of male and female politicians in the government? Should abortions be banned? Should the police always have warrants to arrest someone? Should judges have unlimited power? Should the President be indefeasible? Should children get fruit at school daily? Complicated themes for persuasive essays Is there God? Is there one truth for all? Should immigrants have a right to govern the state? Should taking care of the homeless be made mandatory for all the citizens? Should advertisers be punished for giving promises they cannot implement? Should border fences be built to prevent illegal immigration? Should schools replace paper books with e-books? Should boys and girls study at different schools? Should schools stop scanning the essays for plagiarism? Should weight control be made a national concern? Bonus topics for convincing essays Should prisoners be allowed to get higher education when imprisoned? Should missionary trips to poor countries be sponsored by the government? Should the restriction on the minimum speed be lifted? At what age should it be legal for students to start working? Should fast food restaurants be paying more taxes for causing obesity? Should breastfeeding be prohibited in public places? Should parents be allowed to go through children's belongings without their consent? Should the Internet be banned from schools? Should artistic people retire earlier? Should people be executed for domestic violence? Select one of these topics to write a good persuasive essay and you will not regret it. These themes are destined to turn into fun and creative writing. And that's exactly what you need when working on such a piece.