Lory Ice Religions of the WorldJournal 3 DATE @ & Essays

Lory Ice Religions of the WorldJournal 3 DATE \@ MMMM d, y January 29, 2017 Native American history, unlike other past civilizations and cultures, had very little to no written documents. This made it difficult for historians to explain there past civilization and religions. The information that we do have today is based mostly on oral traditions, indigenous histories, and communication of stories from generation to generation. With this information the historians can conclude that there are common characteristics among the many different Native American religions, and tribes. Due to the wide range of Native American tribes all over the Americas. The Native's religions evolved to match the needs and lifestyles of the location of the individual tribes. Religious traditions of the Native people around the world tend to be heavily influenced by their methods of acquiring food, whether it be by hunting wild animals or by the agriculture. It is understood that Native A merican religions are polytheistic. Many tribes believe in the existence of a High God and multiple spirits. Most seem to believe that all nature is alive with spirits, and that each thing plants, and animals have a spirit. Earth Mother is at the heart of belief and is personified by thunder and lightning. Their High God, also referred to as the Supreme Being, would be called upon only in extreme instances seeing as he was considered separate from the concerns of earth. Matters of daily life where left for the nature spirits and sometimes ancestors. Native Americans have a great respect for nature and very seldomly ever abuse it. Hunting for example was a religious pursuit in which the hunter saw the animal as a fellow creature with a spirit. Before a hunt the hunter would pray to the spirit of the animal he was about to kill, and would only kill it if it was absolutely necessary. After the kill they would ask for forgiveness. They would use every part of the animal and leave nothi ng to waste.Religious practices and rituals were also made in order to pay respect to the spirits. Sacrifice was a way of pleasing the Gods. In the Aztec culture, human sacrifice played an important role in pleasing the Gods. For example people of the Great Plains held The Sun Dance. The Sun Dance would last several days, during which time the dancers would fast and pray for healing. Individuals would make personal sacrifices and sacrifices on behalf of their community. This was a way of acquiring the spiritual power necessary for human survival.Taboos also played a great part in the creation of religion. Taboos were avoided so that spirits would not be offended. An example, would be when women would menstruate. A menstruating woman was thought to be very powerful. During this time the woman is kept away from ordinary society. She was not allowed near men who where about to hunt, because it was thought that even a glance from the menstruating woman might destroy there ability to hun t.Another taboo that was widely observed was the avoidance of the dead. In some Australian cultures the dead are not referred to by their name directly as a mark of respect. This avoidance period may last as long as twelve months to several years, depending on how important the person was. The taboo had been enforced with extreme severity in some cultures. In the Native tribe Guajiro of Columbia, if you where to mention the dead before their family it was considered a dreadful offense, which was often punished by death. Native Americans would also conducted ceremonies and rituals to get in touch with the spiritual world. Songs, dancing, fasting and bathing where the most common way ceremonies where conducted. The natives would use dance as a means of contacting the spirits in preparation for special events. Dance was used to prepare the tribe for a hunt, war or agriculture. During these ceremonies the entire community would participate for long periods of time. With dance came song. The Native Americans would sing about the spirits of animals, while beating drums and sticks in a steady rhythm in a hypnotic way. The Natives would also preform ceremonies before and after a hunt to

Identity, Culture, and Organisation

Identity, Culture, and Organisation Introduction Organisations have recently encountered forces from some sources that encompass rivals, shareholders, and clients, which have caused them to adopt a â€Å"lean on mean† policy. For workers, this move has caused rationalisation and cutting back every expression demonstrating real or potential unemployment. Irrespective of the expression selected, this tendency has made many employees to reconsider concerns of dedication, faithfulness, and the identity of workers.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Identity, Culture, and Organisation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The usual mental treaty was typically relational with shared confidence supposedly at the core of the union between workers and employers (Gioia et al. 2010). In line with this comprehension, workers at National Health Service in the United Kingdom showed faithfulness and dedication whereas employers provided job security, future of the pro fession, as well as training and development. The sense of the new psychological treaty argument affirms that there exists a decrease in the dedication and fading away of identity with bosses. The notion of reduced identity has also been studied in academic literature, which discloses that identity in organisations is associated with motivation, confidence, dedication, and nationality (Zachary et al. 2011). Due to identity in organisations, there could be a great improvement in performance. In academic research, there are two different points of views, viz. the view of multiple identities and that of trade off. This paper discusses these two competing perspectives in the context of National Health Service and explores the function of identity dynamics at occupations, stating their significance, and elucidating them theoretically. Organisational identity At the level of an individual worker in the National Health Service, the termination of organisational mooring lines denotes the la ck of logic, belonging, and management, and thus the optional focal points for identity have turned out to be higher-flying. There are implications that workers presently focus on the externalities of organisations with adherences to the line of work or the internalities of organisations in the form of occupation or project teams. Therefore, apparently the concern of identity has recently turned out to be more intricate with dissimilar concentrations on identity (Clark et al. 2010). Research vividly offers varying concentrations on identity and loyalty with the occupation or career. Additionally, numerous academic advancements exist in the National Health Service though there is a lack of empirical activities specifically concerning the subject of nested identities. Two different points of view can be obtained from abiding academic research (Ravasi Phillips 2011).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15 % OFF Learn More One of the viewpoints presents multiple identities and affirms that varying concentrations of identity do not require being in a contest, but are in agreement with one another. People might identify with their direct co-workers, identify with the standards of their bosses, and as well feel dedicated towards their occupation (Ashforth, Rogers Corley 2011). A good example that can demonstrate this assertion is the case of a physician who may closely identify with co-workers in the healthcare sector, identify with the standards and goals of the National Health Service (NHS), and have loyalty and links with the health profession. A different viewpoint proposes that trade offs associations exist amid various centres of identity (Grimes 2010). In this regard, when a person identifies with his or her medical co-workers it is at the cost of the career and organisation. In an attempt to revisit the medical correlation, if a physician identifies with his or h er medical professional co-workers, it complies with the fact that the state of identity with the NHS and medical career reduces. Role of identity dynamics at work Delineating and considering identity in National Health Service Identity in the National Health Service has become a significant theoretical lens to discuss the association involving a worker and boss and in addition, it has been identified as a cognitive association between the description of the organisation and the description of self. Essentially, powerful identities in organisations come up when people integrate the discernment of the standards of the employer into their own point of view (Schreyà ¶gg Sydow 2010). Therefore, personal and organisational standards are well suited. A progression like that comes up from two approaches. One of the approaches is the similarities with a boss where people choose to join organisations whose standards equal their own established convictions (Edwards Edwards 2012). The secon d approach is emulation where the individual convictions of a person vary in the course of employment to turn out to be strongly matched with those of their boss. The theoretical foundation of the work in the sector focuses on the theories of social identity and self-categorisation. Organisational identity assesses the progression of the way workers describe themselves via their association with the boss (Dutton, Roberts Bednar 2010). The practice of identification in the National Health Service fundamentally hails from social evaluations between employees and their characteristic groups. Therefore, identity is outlined by the awareness of employees that they belong to particular social groups in conjunction with a number of psychological and value importance to them of their group devotion.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Identity, Culture, and Organisation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Concisely, people descri be themselves by getting into social sets that carry significance to them; for instance, physicians could describe themselves as partaking in a health profession whose objective is to assist in taking care of individuals in the society (DeRue Ashford 2010). Additionally, physicians will participate in the health career, which is an impressive profession, and thus in this manner boost their confidence and self-identity. In a bid to elucidate the identity of a person, a second practice of social evaluations arises between groups. Individuals in a similar social group are viewed to be compatible (Balmer 2008). In this regard, dissimilarities with other individuals are augmented, thus resulting into the uniqueness and attractiveness of the groups of compatible individuals. The insinuation of the practice of social identity is that people describe themselves via group membership and assign to features of the group, and thus the more powerful the identity, the more the mind-sets and cond uct of a person are controlled by the standards of the group. Organisational identity is a precise demonstration of social individuality (Arendt Brettel 2010). Organisational identity has normally been associated with three interrelated aspects namely: Constructive organisational fit Emotional dedication Internalisation The difference between organisational identity and the outlined aspects is that organisational identity is self-definitional (Scott 2007). Therefore, employees possess organisational standards and convictions instead of merely embracing them. Research on identity Currently, the idea of organisational identity has focussed on two major themes. One of the themes is the roots of identity and the other is the connotations of organisational identity (Weber Dacin 2011). Research has revealed that particular aspects boost organisational identity in the National Health Service with the likelihood that the identity of employees with their boss is higher if: Members of a group are compatible with them Organisational standards are similar to personal standards Term increases The personal characteristics imply a higher inclination to identify with the organisation (Tlili 2008) There is little or no conflict involving group identities As aforementioned, many studies have examined the results of organisational identity. Research on organisational identity has also revealed that organisational recognition constructively relates to job satisfaction and motivation and it negatively relates to turnover objectives as well as real turnover (McLeish Oxoby 2011). Theoretical explanations The Rising Organisational Identity Programme As emphasised earlier, some variations to the employment affiliation have cropped up and brought about restored identification with career and workgroups (Powell 2007). A significant topic that has not been adequately studied is the character of the affiliation between career, group identity, and identity of the organisation (Roone y et al. 2010). Future research should aim at demonstrating whether identities are corresponding and matching or whether strong recognition with the career could occur at the cost of other kinds of identity.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The argument of multiple identities In self-identity studies, it has been suggested that a person will be a member of numerous social groups with all of them partaking in the general sense of identity. Nevertheless, â€Å"these identities will not bear identical meaning or value and could be organised subconsciously in a nested structure; therefore, employees may embrace multiple identities† (Ahlgren Tett 2010, p.25). In the case of a National Health Service, multiple identities could arise from affiliations with the organisation, co-workers, career, or departments. In an excellent situation, standards and convictions of these unique societies will be corresponding and mutually buttressing (Edwards Peccei 2010). Therefore, an employee will identify with various kinds of identities like those with the group, career, and organisation. The argument of trade off The connection involving career and organisational identity Due to the lack of a strong relationship within Nationa l Health Service, workers have deliberately taken up optional basis of identity. The standard organisational term has decreased, but workers stay in the same occupation for elongated terms and thus identify with lasting social group, viz. their career (Christian 2011). In brief, a higher trade off involving career and organisational identity exists. With regard to the downsizing incident, career identity has become more powerful while organisational identity has become weakened. The inconsistencies of recognition for industrial scientists have been studied with professional principles being in disagreement with the ones embraced by their bosses (King, Felin Whetten 2010). This conflict of identities is anchored in the idea that employees are administered by two sources. One of these sources is the managerial standards and cultural principles of the organisation. The second source is the principles of occupational societies, as well as â€Å"collegial management†. This fixati on to a professional society is based on the perception that since â€Å"trained consultants are believed to have interiorised the principles of the career, professions support right to govern their own activity† (Alvesson 2012). Due to hiring trained workers in the National Health Service, workers anticipate a particular degree of independence and the organisation supposes that they will carry on with the occupation at hand. Therefore, the conflict turns out to be a query of reliability between the influences of position in an organisation against the influence of technology, knowledge, and ability. The aforementioned inconsistency presupposes that there will be a clash between organisational and occupational identity (Akerlof Kranton 2005). Nevertheless, the philosophers of organisational identity propose that the affiliation between career and organisational identity in the National Health Service has brought about unconstructive and constructive affiliations. The affili ation involving group and organisational identity Contending literatures disprove enhanced identification with career, but aim at renewed concentration on groupings in organisations. Few practical researches have evaluated these groups, and one of them is the practical research by Haslam in 2004. Haslam (2004) reveals that workers identify more powerfully with their groups as compared to identification with their bosses and in fact, the group is a more powerful forecaster of constructive employee approaches. Haslam’s affirmation hinges on the allegation that identity is more enhanced in smaller groups for they are more probable of structuring distinct societies with common principles due to maintained interaction (Smith 2011). Conclusion Organisational identity has turned out to be a significant topic in organisations, and specifically National Health Service, in the modern age due to the creation of unions and acquirements and the supremacy of organisations where it is prog ressively hard to understand organisational confines. The view of reduced identity has also been studied and unveils that identity in organisations is connected with motivation, confidence, dedication, and nationality. Due to identity in organisations, there could be a great advancement in the performance of National Health Service. In academic studies, two different points of view exist and they consist of the view of multiple identities and the view of trade off. This paper demonstrates that with the increase in organisational identity, there is a corresponding increase in the group and career identities. Similarly, when organisational identity is poor, group as well as career identity will as well be poor (Edwards 2009). Therefore, at the extremes seems to be enhanced occupation-associated identity or poor occupational associated identity. This outcome reveals the authority of characteristics mainly supported by the strong constructive association between the requirement for iden tity and command of organisational identity. Reference List Ahlgren, L Tett, L 2010, ‘Work-based learning, identity and organisational culture’, Studies in Continuing Education, vol. 32 no. 1, pp. 17-27. Akerlof, G Kranton, R 2005, ‘Identity and the Economics of Organisations’, The Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 19 no. 1, pp. 9-32. Alvesson, M 2012, Understanding organisational culture, Sage, London. Arendt, S Brettel, M 2010, ‘Understanding the influence of corporate social responsibility on corporate identity, image, and firm performance’, Management Decision, vol. 48 no. 10, pp. 1469-1492. Ashforth, B, Rogers, K Corley, K 2011, ‘Identity in organisations: exploring cross-level dynamics’, Organisation science, vol. 22 no. 5, pp. 1144-1156. Balmer, J 2008, ‘Identity based views of the corporation Insights from corporate identity, organisational identity, social identity, visual identity, corporate brand identity and corporate image’, European Journal of Marketing, vol. 42 no. 10, pp. 879-906. Christian, L 2011, ‘Discerning the unique in the universal: the notion of organisation identity’, European Business Review, vol. 23 no. 6, pp. 632-654, Clark, S, Gioia, D, Ketchen, D Thomas, J 2010, ‘Transitional identity as a facilitator of organisational identity change during a merger’, Administrative Science Quarterly, vol. 55 no. 3, pp. 397-438. DeRue, D Ashford, S 2010, ‘Who will lead and who will follow? A social process of leadership identity construction in organisations’, Academy of Management Review, vol. 35 no. 4, pp. 627-647. Dutton, J, Roberts, L Bednar, J 2010, ‘Pathways for positive identity construction at work: Four types of positive identity and the building of social resources’, Academy of Management Review, vol. 35 no. 2, pp. 265-293. Edwards, M 2009, ‘HR, perceived organisational support and organisational identif ication: an analysis after organisational formation’, Human Resource Management Journal, vol. 19 no. 1, pp. 91-115. Edwards, M Edwards, T 2012, ‘Procedural justice and identification with the acquirer: the moderating effects of job continuity, organisational identity strength and organisational similarity’, Human Resource Management Journal, vol. 22 no. 2, pp. 109-128. Edwards, M Peccei, R 2010, ‘Perceived organisational support, organisational identification, and employee outcomes’, Journal of Personnel Psychology, vol. 9 no. 1, pp. 17-26. Gioia, D, Price, K, Hamilton, A Thomas, J 2010, ‘Forging an identity: An insider-outsider study of processes involved in the formation of organisational identity’, Administrative Science Quarterly, vol. 55 no. 1, pp. 1-46. Grimes, M 2010, ‘Strategic sensemaking within funding relationships: The effects of performance measurement on organisational identity in the social sector’, Entrepr eneurship Theory and Practice, vol. 34 no. 4, pp. 763-783. Haslam, S 2004, Psychology in organisations, SAGE Publications Limited, London. King, B, Felin, T Whetten, D 2010, ‘Perspective- Finding the organisation in organisational theory: A meta-theory of the organisation as a social actor’, Organisation Science, vol. 21 no. 1, pp. 290-305. McLeish, K Oxoby, R 2011, ‘Social interactions and the salience of social identity’, Journal of Economic Psychology, vol. 32 no. 1, pp. 172-178. Powell, S 2007, ‘Organisational marketing, identity and the creative brand’, Journal of Brand Management, vol. 15 no. 1, pp. 41-56. Ravasi, D Phillips, N 2011, ‘Strategies of alignment Organisational identity management and strategic change’, Strategic Organisation, vol. 9 no. 2, pp. 103-135. Rooney, D, Paulsen, N, Callan, V, Brabant, M, Gallois, C Jones, E 2010, ‘A new role for place identity in managing organisational change’, Managem ent Communication Quarterly, vol. 24 no. 1, pp. 44-73. Schreyà ¶gg, G Sydow, J 2010, ‘CROSSROADS- Organising for Fluidity? Dilemmas of New Organisational Forms’, Organisation Science, vol. 21 no. 6, pp. 1251-1262. Scott, C 2007, ‘Communication and social identity theory: Existing and potential connections in organisational identification research’, Communication Studies, vol. 58 no. 2, pp. 123-138. Smith, E 2011, ‘Identities as lenses: How organisational identity affects audiences evaluation of organisational performance’, Administrative Science Quarterly, vol. 56 no. 1, pp. 61-94. Tlili, A 2008, ‘The organisational identity of science centres’, Culture Organisation, vol. 14 no. 4, pp. 309-323. Weber, K Dacin, M 2011, ‘The cultural construction of organisational life: Introduction to the special issue’, Organisation Science, vol. 22 no. 2, p. 287. Zachary, M, McKenny, A, Short, J, Davis, K Wu, D 2011, ‘Franc hise branding: an organisational identity perspective’, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 39 no. 4, pp. 629-645.

Change from Qualitative to Quantitative Article

Change from Qualitative to Quantitative - Article Example Tanya L. Rogers (2010) carried out a qualitative study to further explore the aforementioned issue and elucidate the factors underlying success of students enrolled in an entry level nursing program, the findings of which have been described in the article named â€Å"Prescription for success in an associate degree nursing program (Rogers, 2010).† The current study was important as it addresses and underscores a very important issue and adds to the existing body of knowledge in this regard. However, this study has certain limitations which require further exploration, such as the degree of association between the identified factors for success and the academic performance of the students, as this would be a more objective indicator of whether there is any causal relationship or association between the identified factors underlying success and actual success, as reflected by academic performance and test scores. A quantitative study would go one step beyond the qualitative stud y by ascertaining the level of association and the degree of impact of each of the identified factors on the success in program completion and NCLEX-RN results and, thus will help in overcoming these shortcomings in the existing knowledge base. Research Purpose The qualitative study conducted by Rogers (2010) aimed at elucidating the factors underlying successful program completion and the NCLEX-RN results amongst students enrolled in an associate degree nursing (ADN) program. However, a qualitative approach would not enable researchers to objectively determine the level of association between each of the identified factors and successful program completion and the NCLEX-RN results. The best way to elucidate an association between different variables or the existence of a causal relationship and to prove or disprove a hypothesis is to conduct a quantitative study (Shuttleworth, 2008). Thus, in this case, a quantitative study is required which would enable determination of the relati onship between the factors identified for success and actual indicators of success, i.e. program completion and NCLEX-RN results. Informed Consent and Ethical Considerations The informed consent and ethical considerations would be the same as described by Rogers (2010). The study will be conducted after obtaining approval from Institutional review board (IRB) of the concerned institution. Written informed consent will be signed by each participant at the commencement of the study and complete confidentiality will be maintained throughout using pseudonyms for all participants to mask their true identities. Design The study design used by Rogers (2010) was a qualitative study design using interviews and document analysis. The current quantitative study would be a cross sectional study, i.e. observational quantitative study design (Hopkins, 2008).This design will enable the determination of an association between the identified factors for success such as experience, faculty involvemen t, study habits, etc and performance indicators including successful program completion and NCLEX-RN scores. Sample A sample comprising of 6 seniors and 3 faculty members was used by Rogers (2010) for the qualitative study. However, the quantitative study, being cross sectional in nature will use a much larger sample size. The sample size will be calculated using a 95% confidence level and 80%

What impact has the evolution of social media had on our society in Essay

What impact has the evolution of social media had on our society in regards to the products we buy and how we receive information - Essay Example These impacts are in regard to the products bought and how information is received.Consequently, it will discuss the influence that social media has on the decisions that people make. The elements of social media are digital objects. They vary in sizes and are of different types. Twitter post also known as tweets have a limitation of up to 40 characters, while email messages are only a few lines of a few paragraphs in length. The variation in sizes causes dramatic patterns of interaction.MediaWiki, gives support to six levels of headers and automatically generates a table of contents, easing the creation of large pages. Social media have developed around a significant kind of a digital object. These objects include You Tube videos, Flickr photos, bookmarks at delicious, books on Amazon, music or podcast at iTunes, TV shows at Hulu, and people at facebook.Tweet at twitter, messages at discussion forums or email lists, pages at Wikipedia, products at eBay, presentations at Slide Share, 3D objects in Second life, and career professionals at LinkedIn are also some of the digital objects (Hansen, Shneiderman and Smith 15). Social media provide avenues for people to take part in presenting their identity themselves (Al-deen and Hendricks 4).There is a great difference between online social interactions and one on one interaction in offline social networks. They offer avenues for expressing minimal restrictions. Those, that use online social networks, can give their views and ideas quite freely than in conversing one on one. The internet has improved buying and purchase power and reduced costs, reduced the barriers to enter markets, increased competition on a globally and reduced intermediation. The Internet has made every company regardless of its location easy to enter the competitive market. The internet has made it easy and less costly to advertise and for various firms to connect with their suppliers and customers (Muller 2).Users go to social media to

Ip4 diversity in the workplace Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ip4 diversity in the workplace - Research Paper Example The civil rights of 1964 prohibits any form of discrimination on the basis of race, religion, colour and national origin and sex. The document is a judicial reference that fosters equality among all the citizens of the United States (Hasday, 2007). The Civil Rights Act, Title VII of 1964 legislation was aimed at promoting equality among the citizens of the United States of America thus allowing them to exercise their basic rights such as the right to vote and acquire education. The act was also designed with the aim of extending the commission of civil rights; prevent discrimination in all federal assist programs and to form a commission on equal employment opportunities (Hasday, 2007). This stipulates the rights of an American citizen to participate in any job application program regardless of the discrimination elements such as race, skin colour and originality. A religious accommodation is any necessary adjustment to the work environment that will allow an applicant of an employee to practice his or her religion. Chapter VII necessitates the job of federal agencies in reasonable accommodation of religious practices or beliefs practiced or performed by employees which may conflict with the working requirements, unless the accommodation would create undue hardship (Gregory, 2011). If it does not pose any undue hardship, the employer is obliged to abide by the federal rule and grant the employee the accommodation. Some of the undue hardships that might lead to the employer denying religious accommodation rights include: if the accommodation is costly, decreases workplace efficiency, compromises work place safety or if the practice conflicts with special requirements. Application process or tasks entailed in the working environment (Gregory, 2011). Religious accommodation may be inform of dressing, for instance, nuns and Muslim women are excep ted from job dressing requirement as they are bound by their religion

A Look At Daniel Defoes Robinson Crusoe English Literature Essay

A Look At Daniel Defoes Robinson Crusoe English Literature Essay Daniel Defoes Robinson Crusoe (1719) is regarded as the most notable forerunner of the English Novel or to some extent the first English Novel. It was written at the beginning a century that witnessed great changes in the economic order. The cognoscenti have dealt with the character of Robinson Crusoe, bringing out several points of view. The motive of this piece of work is to study Crusoes philosophy about trade, religion and non-Europeans in its historical background. These three facets of Crusoes personality are inherently connected with each other and are thus fundamental to an appreciation of Crusoes mindset and character. His disposition towards dealings and religion is prompted by realistic considerations. He capitalizes on non-Europeans and is backed by spiritual beliefs in his discriminating treatment. The next consideration of the three main aspects of Crusoes nature will help us to grasp his character and inform us of the prevalent trends of the Eighteenth Century. Right from the beginning, Crusoe appears to be a star-crossed navigator and tradesman, however his ambitions are not impeded by shipwrecks and captivity. He is not the archetype of a man who could be impelled to abandon his Marxist principles by bad luck; contrariwise these misfortunes and his defencelessness tend to become a driving force. Robinson has the personality of a well-bred dealer whom setback or hardship does not break but whose perseverance and composure are magnified. Such mischance adds to his wisdom and predisposes him to future challenges. He never omits any scope for investment and commerce. In Brazil, besides exploring other opportunities for making money, he cautiously inspects the land, the plantations, and the regulation of the country. Crusoe undoubtedly inherited his methodical and businesslike way of living from his natal home in York. To put down roots as a planter in Brazil, it is needed to acquire property and obtain an allowable license. He makes profits on the situation and starts out to contemplate future prospects as a prosperous planter. Crusoe is the only one who survives from the hapless shipwreck. Although the craft is filled with water, he takes all the useful items to the island. He dwells on this remote island thanks to his remarkable shrewdness. His living the supervision of the resources on the isle and his discrimination in the dreariest details of everyday life are germane to his mercantile interests. Albeit he calls money a Drug and nasty, sorry, useless Stuff he does not get rid of it but rather encases it in a piece of canvas and preserves it for the future. Robinson Crusoes life as a dynamic trader arises out of his arrival in Lisbon after having spent more than twenty-eight years on the island. It is as though he were leading off a new life from scratch inquiring about the state of his plantation in Brazil and aiming at renewing his old trade contacts. He discovers that his plantation is still thriving and earns from its profits over five thousand pounds in sterling silver. Thenceforth, he disposes of his plantings and takes up residence in England. Crusoes feeling about nature is likewise practical. He exploits the island exclusively for his own subsistence and satisfaction and feels no aesthetic gladness form its magnificent scenery. He just fusses about the improvement of his land and has no leisure to notice that the island provides a beautiful landscape. Crusoes sole pleasure comes from examining his goods: I had everything so ready at my Hand and that is was a great Pleasure to me to see all my Goods in such order and especially to find my Stock of all Necessaries so great. He always pleaded for his freedom when he was on the Island of Despair. But after his deliverance, and on getting back home, he is not inclined to overlook the investment he has made in the island. Apart from his nostalgic association for him, the island is linked to his commercial motives. He writes: Besides this I shard the island into parts with em, reservd to myself the Property of the whole, but gave them such Parts respectively as they agred on; and having settld all Things with them, and engagd them not to leave the Place, I left them there. Crusoes penchant for mercantilism proves to be surprisingly realistic and precautionary; his thrifty investments have brought him a substantial coming back. He is an affluent tradesman and his adventures represent the virtues of individualism and absolute economic, social and intellectual freedom for the individual. Despite the recurrent religious cogitations in Defoes story, we are aware that it would be inaccurate to take the purpose of the novel or even its central theme as being pious in nature. Intuitively assessed, the book looks secular, more instantly and more steadily concerned with a mans earthly fulfillment than with his duty towards the Providence under the guidance of religion. After returning to England, Crusoes comparison of himself to the biblical character Job in chapter XXIX displays much about how he gives his martyrdom religious meaning: I might well say now indeed, that the latter End of Job was better than the Beginning. It is impossible to express here the Flutterings of my very Heart when I looked over these Letters and especially when I found all my Wealth about me; for as the Brazil Ships come all in Fleets, the same Ships which brought my Letters brought my Goodsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ . Like Job, whose religious devotion was gauged by God through the deprivation of family and wealth, Crusoe is dispossessed of his money while nonetheless pledging allegiance to the Deity. In a similar way, the protagonists pride in escaping the middle Station is a mark of Greek mythology in which the characters suffer from hubris and are therefore scourged by their sin. His fathers dictum sounds like a prophetic statement for Crusoes predicament: Boy might be happy if he would stay at Home, but if he goes abroad he will be the most miserable Wretch that was ever born. He unremittingly ponders over his connection with the Lord throughout the novel and how much God is penalizing him for his wicked Days. Halfway through the novel, Robinson, after a long rumination on whether religion allowed him to murder without warning or provoking the cannibals on the island, ends by observing that they might kill him. His observation is: Religion joyned in with this prudentialà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦me. Religion has a way of concurring with the protection and comfort of Defoes fictional character. As we said previously, Crusoes maiden imprudence is going off to sea without his fathers consent, which is viewed by him and is considered to be so viewed by us, as deliberate insubordination to God, that these calamities are meant to lead him into remorse for his offence and into the pardon and kindness of God, and that his ultimate prosperity is a proof of Gods care for him. Despite the dramatic events, Crusoes temperament does not seem to alter, even if he is in a state of sin or of repentance. The necessity of repentance is a key element in the novel. The Preface indicates the moral and religious dimensions of the story, which states that Crusoes travelogue is published to instruct others in Gods wisdom and the importance of repenting ones sins: The Story is told with Modesty, with Seriousness, and with a religious application of Events to the Uses to which wise Men always apply them to the Instruction of others by this Example, and to justify and honour the Wisdom of Providence in all the Variety of our Circumstances, let them happen how they will. Crusoe needs compunction most when he is told from the fiery angelic figure that comes to him during a feverish hallucination and says: Seeing all these Things have not brought you to repentance, now you shall die. He believes that his major sin is his rebellious behaviour towards his father, which he compares to a biblical reference: I have been in all my Circumstances a Memento to those who are touched with the general Plague of Mankind, whence, for ought I know, one half of their Miseries flow; I mean, that of not being satisfyd with the Station wherein God and Nature has placd them; for not to look back upon my primitive Condition, and the excellent Advice of my Father, the Opposition to which was, as I may call it, my original Sin. It is akin to Adam and Eves defiance of God, which may suggest that Crusoes exile from civilization symbolizes Adam and Eves expulsion from Eden. According to Robinson, contrition consists of acknowledging his desolation and his complete reliance upon the Lord. A main part of the plot of the novel relies on the fact that Crusoe is shipwrecked on the island as Gods way of bringing him to repentance and redemption. On several occasions in the novel, Defoe achieved a kind of grandeur of vision; in which the might and majesty of God are praised: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I had now brought my state of lifeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦next to miraculous. Here the Puritan sense of the grace of God for an unworthy sinner is well-expressed. It is unlikely that a hypocrite would pen these lines. If the intensity of religious belief appears less in Defoe and the concern with substantial success greater than in the works of his puritan predecessors, that intensity of feeling is yet anything but missing. This may seem the mark of a hypocritical religious belief, despising the wealthy yet labouring to achieve them, but to the Puritan, there is nothing contradictory in this. The most unpleasant leitmotiv in Defoes novel is the way Crusoe behaves towards non-Europeans. The fact that his attitude is very repulsive arouses our interest, for it assures us to understand the foundations of British Imperialism that were being laid at when the novel was written. There is no possibility but that the opinions expressed by Crusoe are those of the author as well. We know enough of Defoes own political career as an agent of the Prime Minister who made the treaty endowing Great Britain with its slaving rights, Sir Robert Harely, to be certain he was in concord with British policy. Moreover it is obvious that Defoe is manifesting his casual sense of superiority to non-Europeans, as shown by his readers sympathy, even to the point of making native humour one of the interests of the novel. We shall consider four aspects of Robinson Crusoe before trying to come to some conclusion: the jocular use of language to characterize non-Europeans; the prejudice practiced by Crusoe; Crusoes belief that other peoples should work for him; and his reflections on nationality. The first part of the demonstration seems innocuous, but it is not. The problem lies in the fact that both Xury and Friday speak very bad English indeed. Concerning Xury, the thing that may surprise us is that he speaks English, because we are told that Crusoe had no fellow-Europeans to communicate with while he was at Sallee. We should expect that he and his fellow slaves would speak Turkish or Arabic or Berber, some language that is used in the Maghreb. Nevertheless Xury speaks bad English in conversing with Crusoe. As for Friday, he could not utter a word in English before meeting Crusoe. Yet, his English is no better than Xurys, even after some three or four years of continual conversation in English. Despite this, other foreigners, from Europe like the Portuguese sea-captain, speak completely good English. Now the vernacular is one mark, a most meaningful sign, of the equivalence between human beings. That Defoe presents Xury and Friday thus, making funny use of their defective English, has the insidious effect of making us perceive them as somehow inferior to Crusoe and to Englishmen in general. The second thing to clarify is another token of Crusoes discrimination. In the episode where Crusoe, after having decided not to interfere in the cannibalistic customs of the Indians on the island, changes his mind on the spur of the moment and does interfere, the reason of his intervention is that one of the victims is a European. This could be abstractly justified, on the basis of Crusoes concept of nationalities. Still, this would be too insubstantial to account for the strength of Crusoes reaction. Fridays pronouncement that one of the victims is a European fired all the very Soul within him. He was filled with Horror at the very Naming of the white bearded man, whom he saw vividly was a European, and had clothes on. Such a fact clearly unfolds Crusoes real sympathy for Europeans, whatever he might say in calmer moments. The coming idea we have referred to is not easy to elaborate. We can pay attention to the fact that Crusoe is never disposed to acknowledge a relation on equal terms with non-Europeans. He purposely strives for appearing to them awe-inspiring and assumes, as a matter of course, that they should be willing to offer up their lives for his privilege. Lastly, the fourth aspect to expound is that Crusoes concept of nationalities, though not racist, seems to be prejudiced against the bulk of native peoples who are seen as evil and deserving of Gods punishment. It is true that he leaves it to God to punish them, but the expression of the theory is meant to limit our empathy for them. In the following paragraph Crusoe goes on to observe: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦we did not know by what Light and Law these should be condemned; but that as God was necessarily, and by the Nature of His Being, infinitely holy and just, so it could not be, but that if these Creatures were all sentenced to Absence from himself; it was on Account of sinning against the Lightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.

Influential Characters in The Trial and The Stranger :: essays research papers

Influential Characters 'The Trial' and 'The Stranger': How one character can influence the life of another character. The Trial and The Stranger were both critically acclaimed since their published debut, though the books have their many differences they both deal with imprisoned lives going against society. In both novels K and Meursault had characters that influenced them in a negative and positive way, although none these characters had as much influence as the religious figure (the priests) did in both novels. However the priests in each novel influenced the protagonists differently. In The Stranger the chaplain is sent to Meursault before he is faced with his death sentence to have him repent for his sins and change his religious beliefs, in other words, covert him to Christianity. However Meursault stands strong and tells him that he has nothing to repent, for he has not sinned. He does not belief in God and he believes that he is already receiving his punishment, there is no afterlife or higher judgment in Meursaults? beliefs. The chaplain is able to change Meursault?s mind, when he mentions ?how even the hardest of criminals stare at something at one pointing their lives and imagine a divine face in it? (Stranger, p.121). Although Meursault does not see a divine face he sees the face of Marie. This marks the turning point of Meursault?s life, for he starts to care for life something he has never done before. He is now aggravated to know that is going to die and cannot accept that which explains his rage with the priest. Camus? creates characters such as Meursault and the chaplain to contrast each other. Meursault represents an outsider and shows how life is, society does not accept those who do not act as expected even if it means that they would have to bend the truth or hurt others in the process. The idea that Meursault does not care of his death sentence, as he shows little or no emotion of his mother?s death or of Marie proposing matrimony to him was of course is completely against the rules and ethics of society. Consequently he creates the chaplain to show Meursault how society expects him to behave, implementing the chaplain in the novel demonstrates how society acts upon those who do not meet the expected behaviors by society, it tries to change or covert them to the norms of society.