Emperor Qinshihuang Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Emperor Qinshihuang - Essay Example when the country set course to become unified, by about 221 B.C., during which time he provided leadership and direction to the country. Emperor Qin Shi Huang was the First Emperor of this new and Unified China, and his reign, first as king and then as Emperor, stretched from 246 to 210 B.C. To be fair, it should be noted the Emperor is recorded to be quite a tyrannical figure in Chinese history. This was likely necessitated by the fact, however, that he had to struggle to keep the country unified during this initial stage of China being governed by an Emperor, particularly during the first part of his reign. It was a paradox of sorts, as this 35 year rule of power by the Emperor saw both great advances in cultural and intellectual pursuits, yet also resulted in great amounts of destruction throughout the land (Donn & Donn 2003). Perhaps owing to this reason, there are different schools of thought when considering the perceived greatness of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Yet, history cannot erase the fact that the first emperor of a unified China must be considered when broaching any discussion about what forms the foundation of the country that we know today. The basis for modern day China can certain be traced back way before the time of Christ, with the line of emperors that sough to advance the region into the most powerful and greatest country on earth. At the time that the Emperor came into power, China had really been ravaged by division. As such, the infrastructure of the country was in tatters, and there was little direction about how the country would experience any type of progress (Wood 2008). The people really did need a strong leader if they were going to advance as a civilization, so it was almost by necessity that Emperor Qin Shi Huang ruled with an iron fist so to speak. This dominate and charismatic leader, however, was able to accomplish a great deal during the 35 years he held onto the position of emperor. Some of the many accomplishments entailed t he numerous construction projects completed, adding greatly to the vitality of the region (Feuchtwang 2011). In addition, history shows us that China began to develop its own distinct culture and tradition during this time, as well as becoming known for its intellectual pursuits that are still marveled at today. In the end, however, there was also great destruction throughout the country as there were many who did not seek a unified China of this fashion, but the emperor was able to hang on. To understand how he did this, it would help to go back to the beginning and work our way forward. There is not tremendously reliable evidence about the birth and family lineage of Qin Shi Huang. It is widely believed that he was born as an illegitimate chid, and we are not entirely certain of his birth father of record (Wilkinson 2000). Just as today, illegitimate children in China are frowned upon a bit in the social hierarchy, so this likely contributed to some of the negative criticism aimed at the First Emperor. History today does shed a bit different of a light on the record of his birth, but the evidence is still not conclusive. The reality is, however, that we know Qin Shi Huang become unified China’s first Emperor at the early age of 13. Even though such young rulers are not unheard of in ancient civilization, this emperor actually ruled by proxy for the first 8 years, as Lu Buwei was the figure head and decision maker during that time. Buewi was the modern day equivalent of Prime Minister and, interestingly, is the person

Institutional Structures Of Brazil And China Economics Essay

Institutional Structures Of Brazil And China Economics Essay There are a number of factors that multi-national corporations ought to consider before investing in another country. The challenges that are faced vary from country to country. In some cases there are similarities within the institutional structures of these countries that may attract corporations to take advantage of the favorable factors. On the other hand some instructional structures are capable of limiting the policy alternatives available to investors and other policy makers. The control in power among government organizations such as the legislative, judicial and executive makes it difficult for the policy making process to be reviewed. This paper seeks to analyze and discuss five areas of the institutional structures of Brazil and china that are likely to influence global corporations like OPEC to invest in the petroleum industry of another country. A discussion of the comparative attractiveness of these markets is also presented after the assessment of the two countries. A brief back ground of the two countries is also presented. A logical conclusion is drawn from such assessment at the end of this paper. overview of Brazil With the exploitation of large natural resources and a large labor intensive economy, Brazil has risen to the position of being the leading economic power in South America as a major emerging economy. Revenues from the production and supply of oil have made a significant contribution to the development of the economy. Petrobras (a major oil producing company in Brazil founded in the year 1953) has established itself as the biggest oil company in the Latin America in terms of revenue and market capitalization; according to the rankings from Latin Business Chronicle, Petrobras 2008 revenue was 118.3 billion. While the company (Petrobras) has withdrawn itself from being Brazils legal monopolist in the petroleum industry in 1997, it continues to play a significant role as a major oil producer, with production exceeding 2 million barrels of oil per day. Information presented on CIA- world fact a book show that in 2008 Brazils estimated oil production in barrels of oil equivalent per day w as 2.422 million. The country is governed under the 1988 constitution of amendment, of which it is presently being run by the federal republic (government type). The countrys president (leader of government) who is elected into office by the highest votes can serve a four year term (and may do so on two terms), has both the positions of the head of state and head of government. Brazil has an increasing economy based primarily on financial, service, manufacturing and trade (Britannica concise encyclopedia, 2010). With an increasing and developing agricultural, mining, manufacturing and service sectors, Brazil is placed at the top of all the countries within South America. This has allowed the country to accomplish a well established position in the global market and economy. According to a report produced by the World Economic Forum, the Brazilian economy was ranked as the top country in rising evolution of competitiveness in 2009. Brazil posses a large mineral wealth comprising of iron ore, tin, quartz, industrial diamonds, gem stones, gold, uranium, bauxite and platinum. The newly found offshore oil and natural gas deposits can place the country in the position of being a major gas and petroleum producer. The country also has a very large food processing and the principal manufacturing industries produce of products such as shoes, chemicals, steel, aircraft textile and machinery. The main source of Brazils electricity comes from water power, and it has a great untouched potential for hydroelectricity, more so in the Amazon basin. Brief overview of Russia Russia has gone through a period of industrialization since the disintegration of the Soviet Union (in 1991) shifting from an internationally-isolated, predominantly planned economy to a market-oriented and internationally-integrated economy. The economic restructuring and development process which began in the 1990s has witnessed the nationalization of most industry, with the distinct exclusion in the energy and security-related sectors. Today, Russia has been experiencing significant economic development as one of the major emerging market. In addition, Russia has a favorable balance of trade where exports exceed imports in a significant way. According to CIA-the world fact book, Russias estimated exports for 2008 and 2009 are 471.6 billion and 295.6 billion respectively, whereas their imports for the same period are 291.9 billion and 196.8 billion respectively. Russias Petroleum industry is another major contributor to the economy and is one of the biggest oil producers in the glo bal market. According to a June 2009 report present by the Energy Information Administration, Russia is ranked the 2nd largest oil producer with the production of 9,677 thousand barrels of oil per day. The report also ranked Russia as the fourth biggest consumer of petroleum in the world with consumption of approximately 2,811 thousand barrels per day. As it relates to oil export, Russia is ranked as the 2nd biggest net exporter) with 6,866 thousand barrels per day. The government type of Russia is a Federal Republic which basically means that the country has a federation of states run by a Republican type of government. This type of government is comprised of both a President and a Prime Minister that jointly runs the countrys affairs. The President holds the position of head of state while the Prime Minister holds the position of head of state; the Executive authority is carried out by the government and the Legislative Authority is carried out by both the government and the two chambers of the Federal Assembly of Russia. The safe guarding of property rights issue has continued to be an area of serious concern while the strong state interference in private sector continues to be a norm. Russias industry is mainly divided between internationally competitive product producers. In 2009, Russia was the worlds biggest exporter of both petroleum and natural gas and was ranked in third spot as the biggest exporter of steel and main aluminum. In order for businesses to conduct foreign investments there are a few risk factors that can serve as barriers for investments. These risk factors could undermine growth and economic stability and they should be taken into consideration so that businesses would remain profitable and have sustainable market share in this competitive global era. Every business transactions have some level of risk. However, when business transaction takes place across global borders, additional risk is prevalent as oppose to domestic transactions. This section, examines the stability of both Brazil and Russia as it relates to the potential investment of Oil Industry. In order to compare and contrast both countries on its stability, considerations have to be given to the Political, Economic, Regulatory and Technological environment. Compare and contrast Brazil and Russia as it relates to political stability Brazil has a Federal Government type meaning their political environment is made up of a number of self-governing states united by a federal government (Babylon translation, 2004), whereas, Russia on the other hand is made up of a Constitutional Federation (Federal Republic). The issue here is whether governments action could affect the profitability of investing in Brazil or Russia. Brazil is a stable government who is open to the idea of foreign investors. It is the largest foreign direct investment recipient in Latin America, attracting an estimated USD 42 billion in 2008 (United Nations report). Although Brazil is considered as friendly or appropriate environment for investment, the governments implementation of high level taxation and regulatory requirements exist. Brazil has a cooperate tax of 34% as compared to Russia 20% (Brazil income taxes 2010). As a result, conducting business in Brazil as compared to Russia with taxation as the variable makes Russia more of an attractive market since businesses in Russia will have more disposable earning for expansionary purposes of the oil industry. The level of corruption in a country has far reaching ramification on investments and on the doing business climate. According to Transparency International (2010) which gives corruption perception indices on a scale of 1-10 (1 being highly corrupt and 10 being free from corruption), Brazil has a corruption perception index of 3.5 whereas; Russia has a corruption perception index of 2.3. Hence, Russia highly probability of investors in the oil industry being subjected to unfair business practices than that of Brazil. Compare and contrast Brazil and Russia as it relates to their Regulatory stability According to Bloombergs report (2008), the Brazilian economy grow at the fastest paste since 2004 and in sync with standards and poors report the country is expected to maintain annual growth up to 4.5%. This type of economic growth gives credit to the country for potential investment. Thus, the previous year Brazil recorded a record high of $34.6 billion foreign investment. This amount of foreign direct investment together with a tripled export rate will cover Brazils current account deficit (Standard and Poors, 2008). Brazil stable economy have drawn investors and trade agreements between Brazil and other countries. Russia on the other hand, economy has been contracting due to falling oil prices and trade disputes with neighbors. This has resulted in Russia being the first G-8 nation to be downgraded since the start of the global economic crisis. Russia has been struggling with rising inflation, high unemployment, negative economic growth and social unrest which have become a disin centive for foreign direct investment including that of the oil industry (Walker and Robbins, 2009). Compare and contrast Brazil and Russia as it relates to their Economic stability As every other country Russia has regulatory system in place, however as a result of corruption, regulations are not enforced as to aid in the fear treatment of investors. The influence of governments on prices, bureaucratic inconsistency and other forms of government controls detours investments in various sectors. The regulatory environment in Russia makes it difficult to start, operate and close a business. Bureaucratic procedures are drawn out and complicated. For example, obtaining a business license takes more than 18 procedures and 218 days (The heritage foundation 2010). Investment law is very subjective to federal law which allows Government a lot of discretionary control over foreign investment. That is to say, while investment laws speculate the national treatment or foreign investors, federal law is given the prerogative in the protection of the constitution and defense of state. In retrospect, the Russian government in 2006 introduced what is known as the strategic secto rs law under which interests by foreign investors must be pre-approved by the Russian government which has been marred by corruption (Russia been ranked 147 out of 149 countries on transparency international index or 2008 and bribery being rampant), inadequate infrastructure and unreliable contract enforcement. All of these factors affecting the oil industry in various ways. The court system however, in Brazil has proven to be highly ineffective. This is due to lack of human resource and efficient functionary equipment, especially when dealing with issues pertaining to shareholder rights and claims. This comparison shows that both markets have varying weaknesses as it relates to regulatory systems. However, specific to oil industry, Brazil has a comparative advantage in that, the country has had regulatory stability for over 10 years of petroleum Law (Hale, 2009). In addition to these, other factors influences the attractiveness of the market relative to the potential oil industry. Provided hereunder is the convertibility of currency which is another deeming factor that can influence investment opportunities in Brazil or Russia. Convertibility of Local Currency to Dollars The convertibility of a countrys local currency also plays an important role in further development of an economy. With the U.S dollar being the world reserve currency, developing countries would do well to have a close, if not full convertibility rate to the U.S dollar. In Brazil the currency used is the Brazilian Real (R$), also known as BRL. At present the exchange rate for Brazilian currency to the U.S dollar is 1.82 BRL to $1 U.S.D. Though not fully convertible, the Brazilian Real stands strong. Ever since 2003, the U.S dollar has fallen 50% against the BRL. The reason for the strength in the Brazilian Real is the fact that Brazils exports surpass its imports. Thus more foreign currency comes in, than the BRL goes out. This can affect the Brazilian currency positively as a convertible currency would mean free movement of capital, which can help strengthen the economy. Oil is in great demand all over, for it has a vast number of uses. If the oil industry were to come to Brazil it will yield much higher profits due to its close conversion rate to the US dollar of 1.82 BRL to $1 U.S.D as mentioned earlier. As of 2009, Brazil had the second largest oil reserves in the region of South America, of 12.6 billion barrels as was proven by The Oil and Gas Journal (OGJ). 2.4 billion barrels of oil was produced in Brazil each day and continued to rise throughout the years. With increases such as these, the Short-Term Energy Outlook forecasted as of September 2009, that oil production would reach around 2.61 million and 2.81 million in 2010. Brazil, in this respect clearly has high potential where the oil industry is concerned and would prove to be a profitable area for investors wishing to position their industry in the country. However, investors must still be cautious. Although Brazil is high on foreign exchange, in order to sustain this level of foreign currency coming into the country, and to deter inflation of their currency, trade barriers and the high tariffs ar e place on some goods to prevent or minimize imports. Taxes are also very high and are placed on all citizens in the country to cover government spending. So at the end of the day a heavy amount of a businesss profits would go towards paying taxes. So while an oil industry may work well in Brazil, there are other areas of concern that investors must take into consideration before selecting the country as a target market. Russia on the other hand has achieved full convertibility of its currency since the year 2006. Russias currency uses the ruble or RUB. At present, its rate to the US is 1 RUB to 0.03 US dollars. This therefore opens Russias economy to freer movement of trade and a major player in international financial markets (Encyclopedia.com, 2006). A fully convertible currency has gained Russia multiple benefits such as the opening of ruble accounts for both foreign and local investors alike and the advantage of investing in both foreign and domestic businesses. Russia is quickly becoming a globally established economy. However, there remain few problems with the Russian currency. According to The Worlds Favourite Currency Site, Russians inflation rate, compared to the US Dollar, is near 6.5 percent, while the ruble has weakened to 33 rubles per US dollar. Russia, as the largest oil producer on the globe, can suffer greatly from fluctuations. This is because as prices rise and fall, so must the prices of oil change to reflect. This, as a result, hinders the ability for the country to plan a proper budget for its economy and consequently, the ability to plan for expansionary purposes for the economy as a whole. Comparing and contrast trade agreements International relationship specific to the WTO and OPEC as it relates to the Brazil and Russia As the result of globalization, international relations between countries have become increasingly significant, hence the reason why, the rules regarding international trade became necessary. On average 52.3% of Russias total trade turnover takes place with the European Union which is also the biggest investor in Russia accounting for 75% of Russias foreign direct investment. Notwithstanding this, Russia is the worlds largest economy which is not part of the WTO and with Russia being the second largest producer of oil in the world, it is not part of OPEC. Russias non-membership in these critical organizations limits its ability to play an active role in the decision making process as an emerging market. In the case of the WTO, despite recommendation for accession into the WTO by the EU and other members of the BRIC forum, Russia has failed to implement some of the necessary regulatory requirements as the leadership of the country has shown the lack of political will to do so. There h ave been years of rescheduling, timetabling and back and forth negations to ensure that Russia becomes a member of the WTO, however in June 2009 Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made an appalling decision to abandon efforts for accession into the WTO. In retrospect, the development of Russia by exploiting opportunities made available through the WTO and its multilateral trade agreements is hindered. Similarly, Russias non-participation in OPEC has had far-reaching ramifications for the oil industry since it is not able to play a role in controlling the supply and price of oil. On the other hand, Brazil is a member of several international economic organizations as such as the WTO and WCO. The WTO is a global international organization which deals with trade between nations. Brazils membership into the WTO represents the fact that the regulatory requirements of the WTO have been met by Brazil which allows for the exploitation of balance of rights and obligations and ensures that there is security and fairness as it relates to multilateral trade. Traditionally Brazil has produced just about enough oil to aid in its local consumption. However in 2008 with the discovery of off show oil deposits which may contain as much as 100 billion barrels of oil Brazil may become one of the worlds emerging oil exporters. In this regard Brazilian authorities have expressed the desire to become members of OPEC whenever it commences oil exports. This motive will stands to provide mutual benefits for both Brazil and the OPEC since the addition of Brazil as a member of OPEC will allow for the organization to have control over a larger percentage of the worlds oil hence more influence on oil supply and by extension prices. Similarly, Brazil will now have influence over world oil prices as a member of OPEC. This gives Brazil a comparative advantage over Russia relative to the oil industry in that although Russia have been a major exporter of oil, it has not established relations hips with other oil exporting countries to facilitate the regulation of oil supply, prices and corruption in the industry. Further, while Russia is suffering from quickly depleting oil supply Brazil has been able to locate new oil reserves resulting in more clout for Brazil on the international scene as it relates to trade as a decision maker in the oil industry. Market size and attractiveness Both Russia and Brazil are part of the four emerging markets (BRIC) with great potential for economic growth. Brazil has a population of 192,272,890, ranked number four in terms of population size on the market potential index for emerging markets in 2009. Brazilians has a mean disposable income of USD 16,208 with an emerging middle class. The level of economic growth has left some inequalities and therefore 75% of the population earns below the mean disposable income. The rapid growth of the middle class in Brazil has resulted in higher demands for oil and oil related products impacting positively on the industry. Growth of the upper/elite class is also evident with a 124% increase in average disposable income from 2002-2007 of USD 72,932. These levels of growth have been complemented by increased government spending and a falling debt to GDP ratio. The decreasing amount of public and foreign debt stands to benefit the economy in terms of employment since government can spend more o f its resources the capital side of the budget equation and in some cases less taxes are necessary to service recurrent expenditure and debt hence more disposable income is available to circulate in the economy. These economic conditions amongst many others are responsible for the position Brazil has established in the global market as one of the worlds fastest emerging and most attractive markets. Russias population stands at 141,927,297 as of 1 January 2010 with steady growth of the upper/elite class driving oil consumption to an all time high. The changing lifestyle of persons in the upper class fueled by high-end motor vehicles has resulted is a ravenous demand for oil and oil based products. Russias low debt to GDP ratio of 6.8% should allow for efficient distribution of wealth and steady economic growth. However because of the level of corruption there is inefficient distribution of wealth and the overdependence on the oil industry hinders the countrys ability to compete in ot her areas. Russia also has the highest disposable income of emerging markets with 87% of per capita income being disposable, with projected increase of disposable averaged at 15% annually. There is a widening middleclass especially in Moscow which has a disposable income that is more than three times that of the national average. The average disposable income is $ 1023. This comparison clearly shows why both countries are regarded as emerging markets and are generally attractive to investors. This will yield much benefit to the oil industry because of the increasing demand tied with improvements in the standard of living and disposable income. Russia however is confronted with the problem of depleting oil supply, hence, if demand continues to rise Russia oil imports will peak resulting in a steep fall in GDP. It should also be noted that the spread of wealth in Brazil is more equitable than that of Russia which creates a gap in class strata which is known to cause increases in indig ent rates which leads to civil unrest in some cases. Conclusions The oil Industry is clearly very dynamic and is affected by several variables in the economy including: the type of government, economic freedom, regulatory systems, currency fluctuation and convertibility, general economic condition , trade and international relations, market size and attractiveness and many other related factors. With Russia and Brazil being members of the BRIC forum of emerging markets and the concurrent peaks in demand for oil, efficient and prudent economic management should ensure the equitable spread of wealth which should stimulate economic growth. However limitations of governments and other related variables are impediments to the achievement of these noble dreams. Hence, based on the evaluation of critical areas in this paper it is conclusive that both Brazil and Russia presents opportunities for investment and in specific areas one may have a comparable advantage over the other. Clearly in generalization Brazil offers a more stable and predictable investm ent environment which hinges on its steady system of government with established trade relations and a regime prone to fighting corruption as opposed to Russia which have been marred by corruption at all levels and mismanagement in its oil industry. The emergence of future oil exporting potential by Brazil will further position Brazil to be one of the worlds economic powers. While Russia have had some level of growth, much of it is not attributed to the efforts of it government system but rather to economic factors as a result of changing spending patterns. Our recommendation of Brazil as the choice investment market is relative to outlook from the perspective of the oil industry and may vary for other industries. It is arguable that based on the industry being examined and the economic variables under consideration that Russia may be found suitable for investment.

Teacher Expectations and Education Essay example -- Education Teaching

Teacher Expectations and Education One thing I’ve learned this year is that teachers must always strive to adapt to the wide range of individual student abilities, learning styles, and interests even within a single class, but still maintain reasonable expectations, especially if tracking is present in the school. Through my observations, it seems that teacher expectations for students became increasingly lower with each "track." Furthermore, minority, low socioeconomic status and learning support students most frequently appear, in the lower tracks. The low expectations in these classes may be reflected in the students as they leave the school and attempt to function in society. Research by NCTE suggests that ability tracking is detrimental to some groups of students and to many individual students. I will be exploring how low expectations may cause inappropriate behaviors, lack of interest in subject matter, and resistance to learning and how tracking exacerbates these problems. I think it is important, as I discuss expectations in different tracks, to show the composition of students that make up each of the classes that I observed and taught, as it appears that minority, low SES, and learning support students tend to make up the lower tracks. I remember feeling; both shock and surprise when I learned that State College still practices a form of tracking, but Regular, College Prep, and Advanced English seemed pretty harmless at first. The distinct difference between the curriculum and "types" of students from level to level, particularly from Regular to College Prep is what soon began to catch my interest. I should first point out that in the 9th and 10th grades there are only two tracks, Regular and Advanced. Juniors ... ... artwork.† I truly believe (and I’m sure this will be worked out of me at some point) that the moment a teacher says or even thinks that a student is incapable of some task, that is the moment that the student becomes incapable. So what’s the solution to being sensitive to student needs, yet not single them out, labeling, or lowering expectations? Maybe the CTI has some value. Why not simply have two tracks, Regular/College Prep and Advanced (as researched by The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented Learner does show that gifted students benefit from tracking) but keep the CTI model of two teachers collaborating in some way and smaller class sizes? With fewer students, teachers would have more time to give individualized help without labeling or segregating certain students and it is less likely that expectations would be lowered unnecessarily.

Byronic Hero

Byronic Hero – Romantic Hero – Tragic Hero – Anti-Hero During the Romantic Era, a hybrid of the Romantic Hero evolved out of the writings of Lord Byron and the combination tragic hero/romantic hero/anti hero characterization of many of the protagonists in Gothic Novels. Frankenstein is considered one of the Gothic Novels that developed out the the Romantic Era. The â€Å"heroes† in Frankenstein could fit into the Byronic Hero category or be classified as Romantic, Tragic, or Anti Heroes.Lady Caroline Lamb, a former lover of Lord Byron’s called him â€Å"mad, bad, and dangerous to know. † This epitaph stuck as a way to describe a Byronic Hero in literature as well. See if Victor Frankenstein fits the description of the Byronic Hero or if he embodies more of the traits of the other heroes. What about Captain Walton and the Monster? Characteristics of The Byronic Hero: †¢ high level of intelligence and perception †¢ cunning and able to adapt †¢ sophisticated and educated †¢ self-critical and introspective mysterious, magnetic and charismatic †¢ struggling with integrity †¢ power of seduction and sexual attraction †¢ social and sexual dominance †¢ emotional conflicts, bipolar tendencies, or moodiness †¢ a distaste for social institutions and norms †¢ being an exile, an outcast, or an outlaw †¢ â€Å"dark† attributes not normally associated with a hero †¢ disrespect of rank and privilege †¢ a troubled past †¢ cynicism †¢ arrogance †¢ self-destructive behavior Characteristics of The Romantic Hero: Birth and class are unimportant: the individual transcends society †¢ The battle is internal: it is a psychological war won by the â€Å"courage to be me† †¢ Moral codes are eccentric–heroes make their own rules †¢ Passions are outside of individual control †¢ Self knowledge is valued more than physical strength o r endurance (physical courage is de-valued) †¢ The hero is moody, isolated, and introspective †¢ Loyalty is to a particular project and to a community of like-minded others Characteristics of The Tragic Hero: †¢ has strong extraordinary character of noble birth (aristocrat or royalty) †¢ possesses a flaw in character which is his or her weakness †¢ Great Weakness (obsession, lust, greed, desire) leads to ultimate downfall †¢ has a moment of Tragic Choice which spirals into the downfall of hero †¢ Downfall always includes death in a traditional tragedy †¢ Downfall also brings about far-reaching catastrophe: many deaths, downfall of family, kingdom or society †¢ Tragic Hero has potential to turn into an Anti-Hero Characteristics of The Anti-hero †¢ foil to the mission or life of the hero possesses a sharp mind or cunning nature †¢ often possesses superhuman strength or power †¢ may be profoundly evil †¢ may be misunderst ood and have potential for good †¢ may have been wronged and bent on revenge †¢ may elicit no sympathy from reader †¢ may elicit some sympathy from reader †¢ may possess strong ambition to succeed or desire for power †¢ lives on fringes of society †¢ may be considered ugly or unattractive or possesses/obtained some physical scar, deformity or imperfection that may have lead to their evil behavior

`In Another Country` By E. Hemingway Essay

Hemingway creates a powerful and true-to-life story about real experience of many soldiers who came home but remember all casualties and hardship they were faced with during the WWI. On the other hand, their stories full of bravery, honor and courage. They need to adapt to new world, but the only way for them is to change their habits and personal values. Settings and objects reflect inner psychological state of the characters and help readers to grasp the idea at once, follow plot development and conflict resolution. Thesis In the short story, settings and objects help the author to reflect inner psychological experience of soldiers and emotional burden of the war. The hospital serves as a symbol that represents pain and sufferings, death and hopes. This setting gives insight analysis of deep personal feelings of soldiers and their experience during this war time. Within the story Hemingway skillfully portrays casualties of the ar underlining the evolution of characters, their emotional state, caused by sufferings and enormous psychological burden carried by soldiers after the war. â€Å"We were all at the hospital every afternoon, and there were different ways of walking across the town through the dusk to the hospital† (Hemingway). According to Neiberg (2004), the war experience was the shock for the main characters who return home. Hemingway depicts that this is the most difficult time for all soldiers to come to grips with changes occurred in their native countries and communities. He symbolically describes this experience as ‘a bridge’ between war and old life. â€Å"You crossed a bridge across a canal to enter the hospital. There was a choice of three bridges† (Hemingway, n.d. ). This setting underlines that every solder can choose his life path, but all of them are joined by war memories and feelings. Deep human emotions embroil reality and imaginary world of the hero, but Hemingway leaves it to readers to decide what is the most important for the soldiers and what is real for them. The author gives only some hints to the reader to comprehend the meaning of the bridge. It implies not only wisdom, but also the whole life of a person, who has a right to choose which path to go, it represents isolation and rejection of reality. Hemingway describes only one of them underlining that the main characters were suppressed by circumstances and could choose their life path: â€Å"On one of them a woman sold roasted chestnuts† (Hemingway, n. d. ). In â€Å"In Another Country†, the town reflects inner psychological experience of the friends. The main setting, â€Å"the Cova†, appears in the story several times. The narrator pays a special attention to it which reflects his psychological experience and perception of events around him. The narrator uses the following descriptions of it: â€Å"Although, as we walked to the Cova through the though part of town, walking in the dark, with light and singing coming out of the wine-shops† (Hemingway, n. d. ). It is possible to say that the character development is â€Å"slow†, because the main heroes do not want to make any changes in their life resisting strongly modern world they enter (Nagel, 1996). Physical settings of the story depict new world and changes. To some extent, they reflect the personality of the men and their reaction towards new world. The setting of ‘the Cova’ symbolizes unity and friendship, mutual understanding and support. Psychological pressure is caused by war, but Hemingway portrays it symbolically through material and emotional experience, evolution of emotional perception of the world and values. â€Å"The girls at the Cova were very patriotic, and I found that the most patriotic people in Italy were the cafe girls – and I believe they are still patriotic† (Hemingway, n. d. ). Social context of the short story helps to understand resistance of the main characters to accept novelty. After the war, they come to another alien world they know nothing about. Hemingway does not speak directly but the main problem mentioned by Neiberg (2004) is that nobody wants to listen to old soldiers and their war stories being sick and tired of casualties of war. In the story Hemingway uses a lot of symbolic details that helps to unveil the message of the story and create a unique atmosphere of events take place after the war time. â€Å"Machine† represents the hope to recover. Although, many soldiers do not believe in this treatment method like â€Å"the major who came very regularly to the hospital. I do not think he ever missed a day, although I am sure he did not believe in the machines† (Hemingway, n. d. ). â€Å"Machine† represents escape from reality and society in general. On the other hand, ‘Machine’ shows that past experience is more essential for the main characters than their present and future. The character of the major teaches viewers to distinguish between social prestige and moral worth. The major’s attitude towards war is not accompanied by a moral decline but shows that there is no difference for society between true stories and imaginary tales. The main heroes try to escape from this new world and new setting in the hospital as the only possible way to overcome enormous emotional and psychological pressure. From the psychological point of view, the image of hero represented by the four men is caused by the feeling of personal freedom and courage. Social values help to form their individual identities and let them stand out from the crowd. In this case, the soldiers embody personal democracy which is closely connected with love and adventures. Hemingway took part in the WWI and knew from his own experience what courage meant (Meyers 1997). The medals are another important objects which reflects proud and courage. â€Å"We all had the same medals, except the boy with the black silk bandage across his face, and he had not been at the front long enough to get any medals† (Hemingway, n. d. ). Society’s response to heroism defines it as a set of behavior patters and beliefs that valued by the society. To some extent, the soldiers inherit the ideals of the dream, such as personal freedom and social justice. In some cases, world order and justice can be achieved only in blood battles with enemies, so the heroes had to use to use their physical strength against evil. They were persons who took risks: â€Å"I would imagine myself having done all the things they had done to get their medals† (Hemingway, n. d. ). Using the setting of the hospital, the symbol of the machine and medals, Hemingway depicts that the men live in the past where everything is familiar to them: battles, human relations, settings. Within the story Hemingway shows that the core difference between a soldiers and a civilian is in their inner perception of the world. A civilian does not constantly understand all the duties he might to discharge and obligations he might to carry out. As a soldier, a man does not rely upon the others; he is the only one who makes decisions and answer for the consequences (Bourne, 2001). â€Å"The three with the medals were like hunting-hawks; and I was not a hawk, although I might seem a hawk to those who had never hunted† (Hemingway, n. d. ). To some extent, the evolution of characters depicts the state of maturity which cannot be measured by knowledge level or life struggles. It is an attitude of a soldier towards life, his ability to rule it and the ability to accept the reality. Through the settings and objects unveils Hemingway the issue of moral health of the soldiers and evolution of personality. He depicts that in spite of all the negative life lessons soldiers understand what it is to be an individual. Hemingway shows that the inner state of the soldiers has changed. On the other hand, war causes people to become insensitive. The settings of the hospital and the town are powerful reflecting inner state of the men and giving some hints to readers to imagine their feelings and emotional state. Through the detailed settings the story suggests something of the historical loss for the men of transferring the sense of self to relationships with civil society. Works Cited Page 1. Bourne, J. M. Who’s Who in world War One. Routledge, 2001 2. Hemingway, E. In Another Country. n. d. 3. Meyers, J. Ernest Hemingway: The Critical Heritage. Routledge, 1997. 4. Nagel, J. Ernest Hemingway: The Oak Park Legacy. University of Alabama Press, 1996. 5. Neiberg, M. S. Warfare & Society in Europe: 1898 to the Present. Routledge, 2004.