Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Why are gas prices inflated Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6750 words

Why are gas costs expanded - Essay Example Anyway following the lull in the Asian economy in the late 90’s there was a sharp fall in cost when the barrel boiled down to 10 dollars. This was likewise on the grounds that there was plenitude of flexibly since oil from Iraq had begun entering world markets after the Gulf War. (Michael Cohen, 2006) Thereafter the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) figured out how to confine the creation levels in order to recoup the unrefined petroleum costs. From that point forward the costs have taken off and have arrived at levels where the barrel presently costs 150 dollars. OPEC is gathering of 13 nations specifically, Algeria, Equador, Angola, Indonesia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates. (Daniel McDonald et al, October 2005 a. Foundation There have numerous occasions over the previous century when oil costs have out of nowhere gone on upward pattern. Generally remarkable among these were the oil increment s in 1974, in 1979 and afterward after the 90’s which was the period after the Gulf war. In a verifiable point of view the examples of oil utilizations in the course of recent years have been plotted on the chart. (Beam Barrell and Olga Pomerantz, Dec 2004) Most created nations rely upon oil for their financial dependability. Information shows that 40% of OECD vitality needs were fulfilled by oil while for the non-OECD it was 28%. Japan needs near half of its vitality should be enhanced by oil. Anyway China in spite of its blasting economy shows a prerequisite of 20-30% of oil for its vitality needs. It has been noticed that North America and Europe require 40% of oil to cover their vitality prerequisites. (Beam Barrell and Olga Pomerantz, Dec 2004) South American economies then again have a significant blasting and strong vehicle industry which has called for enormous utilization of oil. Other European nations like Czechoslovakia met half of its vitality prerequisites by the utilization of coal. Information organized in the course of the most recent 30 years show that the utilization of oil based goods have ascended from 57.4 million barrels for each day in 1973 to 78.7 million barrels for each day in 2003 which is bounce by 40%. (Beam Barrell and Olga Pomerantz, Dec 2004) Figures have demonstrated that in the course of the most recent decade while interest for oil contracted in Europe, the interest for oil in the OECD nations developed by 0.5% per annum on normal till 1990. (Beam Barrell and Olga Pomerantz, Dec 2004) However in the other rising economies like India and China the interest was hearty. Latin American nations like Argentina kept on lingering behind on account of its gigantic obligation emergency. The progressions of creation design in the European economies were likewise factors in the slight plunge popular. Creation designs were changed to showcase economies. While oil utilization demonstrated decrease in Czech Republic and Hungary there was a 2% expansion in Poland. After the Berlin divider crumbled, Germany and zones to its nearness experienced downturn. Oil force is a term used to characterize the amount of fuel expected to deliver buying power yields. (Beam Barrell and Olga Pomerantz, Dec 2004) Over the most recent twenty years the created nations like UK, Germany, Italy and France have given indications of decreased oil force. Nations like Portugal and Spain anyway demonstrated quick advancement with records of higher oil power. The nations that were consistent in the course of the most recent decade included Sweden and Austria. Contrasted with the European markets the US markets performed better. US required less quarter of oil to create a unit of yield while the oil power of Canada vacillated among high and low. Contrasted with the three greatest economies in Europe, US have the biggest oil power. The oil force of Japan has been discovered to be that between the European and the US levels. During the first

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Continuity and Change over Time Essay Essay

Things that remained the equivalent in India from 300 CE to 600 CE were the Gupta rule, the station framework, Hinduism, logical advances, and exchange. Things that changed during this period were the fall in notoriety of Buddhism, the decrease in Silk Road exchange, and the fall of the Gupta. Things that remained the equivalent in India from 300 CE to 600 CE were the Gupta rule, the social structure, the most well known religion, and the riches created by profession. Hinduism will keep on being the mainstream religion in India. The standing framework was the fundamental social structure. The Brahmins were the most noteworthy class in India. Since they were ministers, who demonstrated their help for the position framework, they were kept in high political standing. During this period, there were constant headways. This included cosmology, arithmetic, writing, and medication. They made a number framework and distinguished pi; they additionally had specialists that had the option to perform tasks. India had been associated with exchange courses since the hour of Cyrus the Great (around 550 BCE). They had additionally aced the storm winds which permitted them to exchange the Indian Ocean bowl. The Silk Roads took into consideration dealers to sell right from the Chinese Empires toward the Western Roman Empires. They exchanged flavors, for example, pepper, beautifying agents, diamonds and pearls. Different domains saw India’s riches and climbed to exchange with them. This permitted the spread of Buddhism to China, and Hinduism to Southeast Asia. Things that changed in India from 300 CE to 600 CE were the fall in prevalence of Buddhism, the decrease in Silk Road exchange, and the fall of the Gupta. Once Ashoka was no longer in power, there was nobody high up in the political structure that was urging the majority to change over to Buddhism, so they turned around to Hinduism. Up and down the Silk Road, sickness was spreading. Rome was tormented by the bubonic plague and little pox. To attempt to prevent these illnesses from harrowing the individuals of the domain, they moved to a progressively territorial, independent type of exchange. This, in any case, caused a financial lull. The conclusion to the Gupta administration was a direct result of the intrusion of the White Huns. This finished in the parting of India into littler, provincial realms. Things that remained the equivalent in India from 300 CE to 600 CE were the social structure, the most well known religion, and the riches created in terms of professional career. Hinduism will keep on being the well known religion in India. Things that changed during this period remembered the decline for changes over to Buddhism, the pestilences tormenting the Silk Roads easing back exchange, and the possible oust of the authoritative administration. Congruity and Change after some time Essay: Rome from 100 CE to 600 CE Things that remained the equivalent in Rome from 100 CE to 600 CE were bondage, exchange, latafundias, mechanical advances, and family jobs. Things that changed during this period were the impacts of Christianity, social changes, the parting of the Empire, and the Fall of Rome. Things that remained the equivalent in Rome from 100 CE to 600 CE were subjugation, latafundias, exchange, innovative advances, and family jobs. In the second c. CE, more than 1/3 of the Roman populace was slaves. This made it elusive work in the center and lower class. This was essentially a direct result of the syndication latafundia proprietors had over the farming industry. Latafundias were like manors in that they were enormous in scale, and run on slave work. This permitted the proprietors to sell their items for inexpensively, cause littler ranches to need to sell their property. Exchange was predominantly consistent all through the Roman Empire. They imported products from up and down the Silk Roads, from India the exchanged flavors, from Egypt and Persia covers and grain, from parts of the Mediterranean wine and oil, and from China silk. One of the significant advances they made was the improvement of cement. They made propelled sewage frameworks, and proceeded with the development of the Roman street and extension ventures. All through Roman history, society was controlled by the male leader of the family, called the pater family. Ladies were docile to men (aside from in Sparta) however they had a couple of rights. Affluent ladies regularly employed force off camera. Things that changed during this period were the impacts of Christianity, social changes, the parting of the Empire, and the Fall of Rome. Socialâ changes inside the realm turned out to be increasingly more clear in light of the fact that the recently rich started testing the distinguished class. The poor class started to develop quickly. The Roman Empire wasn’t tolerating of Christianity, on account of its refusal to love any of their divine beings. Christianity started to spread through the Roman Empire, and Constantine made the Edict of Milan to acknowledge Christianity inside the Empire, since he changed over to Christianity. Diocletian haggled with Persia and had the option to effectively isolate the Roman Empire in two. Constantine requested the development of Constantinople. The fall of the Roman Empire was brought about by a few inner components. The Barracks Emperors or the 26 petitioners to the seat brought about a force battle. The illnesses that were spreading over the Silk Roads made Rome start exchanging locally, in the end falling its majestic economy. At the point when the Chinese kept structure the Great Wall, it pushed the Huns westbound towards the Visigoths. The Visigoths at that point pushed west, attempting to get away from the Huns, driving the Germanic clans into Rome. The Germanic clans unleashed ruin in Rome, and in the long run held onto power, finishing the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE. So the truism â€Å"Rome Fell when China Built a Wall† has some fact to it. Things that remained the equivalent in Rome from 100 CE to 600 CE were social standings of slaves, Silk Road exchanging, enormous nobly claimed manors, propels inside the realm, and jobs inside the family structure. Things that changed during this period were the prevailing religion, changes to social standing, the division of Rome, and the possible finish of the realm.

Saturday, August 1, 2020

Post-Admission Campus Visits

Post-Admission Campus Visits Congratulations, future Illini! Youre in! Whether you have committed to the University of Illinois or you are waiting until decision day, a post-admisison campus visit is worthwhile for all prospective students. Visiting Champaign-Urbana while knowing it will be your home for the next four-plus years may change the way you see campus. A little refresher never hurt anyone. Residence Halls/Housing As a newly admitted Illini, the next big question is where you will live freshman year. Choosing a dorm is both a nerve-wracking and exciting decision. The University Housing website provides information on the University of Illinois residence halls. Throughout the school year, university residence halls offer tours, virtual walk-throughs, and photos of dorm accommodations. Resources such as rates, questions, and policies can be found on the University Housing website as well. Stuck on where to live? Check out my tips on which dorm is best for you! Photo from Rachel Hernandez Campus Walking campus as an Illini feels different from walking campus as a prospective students. You can begin to imagine yourself as a student: walking to class, grabbing lunch with friends, and studying in the library. Personal campus favorites of mine include bubble tea at La Tea, sushi from Sakanaya, and coffee from BrewLab. Dont be afraid to take pictures on the Main Quad and walk down Green Street with pride. After all, you are an Illini! View this post on Instagram Sakanaya will have summer hours effective 5/20 Monday-Thursday 11:30am-2pm, 5pm-9:30pm Friday Saturday 11:30am-2pm, 5pm-10:00pm Closed Sunday #summer2019 #newhours #sakanaya #sushi #UIUC A post shared by Sakanaya (@sakanayarestaurant) on May 22, 2019 at 9:15pm PDT Walking Your Schedule Becoming familiar with academic buildings around campus can make a big campus feel more like home. As a freshman, many of your classes will be on the Main Quad. As a newly admitted student, you can now begin thinking about the classes you will register for. Once you register for classes, walk your schedule. Trust me, being familiar with campus will make your first day a breeze. View this post on Instagram Amazing things happen when people have access to different perspectives, ideas and cultures. ?? #ILLINOIS provides one of the most comprehensive global learning environments in the world and is the top public university in the country for international students and scholars. A post shared by University of Illinois (@illinois1867) on Dec 5, 2019 at 12:57pm PST Rachel Class of 2020 I am studying Middle Grades Education with concentrations in Social Sciences and Literacy in the College of Education. Although I now reside in Champaign, I am originally from Vernon Hills, a Northwest suburb of Chicago.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Employee Participation Performance - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2529 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Management Essay Type Review Level High school Did you like this example? Employee Participation Performance In the first instance is necessary to define both employee participation as well as what is meant by performance. Employee participation may be defined as the process by which employees are involved in the decision making process of a business rather than merely being expect to following instructions (Times 2009) and as such this forms what is referred to in HR as empowerment. Performance on the other hand can be considered from two perspectives, firstly there is the performance of the individual in question and how their personal performance is affected by the concept of employee participation. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Employee Participation Performance" essay for you Create order Secondly there is the performance of the organisation as a whole to consider and how this will change with varying degrees of employee participation. As such the essay will analyse performance from these two perspectives before drawing a conclusion as to the perceived benefits for both parties. Approaches to employee participation: Traditional views of the organisation and approaches to management have seen a clear distinction between the tasks of managers and those of the grass roots level employee. Advocates of this view such F W Taylor (1911) and others within the scientific management school of thought sought to increase productivity and thus performance by deskilling the workforce and breaking tasks down into the most minuet component jobs so as to take advantage of specialisation of labour. The policies implemented by such advocates may be seen as the exact opposite of those who support the theory of employee participation as the scientific school of management sought to centralise power and control into the hands of managers rather than devolve it to the workforce. From a performance perspective the introduction of scientific management techniques saw significant dividends yielded to those who employed them for instance production at the Bethlehem steelworks was maintained with a reduction of lab our from 500 to 140 (ACCEL 2009) meaning that performance per employee had increased significantly. However these early developments in management theory previous to the conception of employee participation should not be used to discredit the theory due to a number of special considerations. In the first instance such theories were applied to manufacturing operations and heavy industry and whilst these operations still form a large part of the economy today there has since been a large shift towards service industries requiring differing management styles and techniques. In addition at least part of the success of the scientific management may be associated with the technological developments of the day such as the introduction of the production line as highlighted by Fords success at the River Rouge plant in Detroit. At the other end of the scale the self-directed work team as defined by (Williams 1995) may be seen as the ultimate exercise in employee participation and has been implemented by companies such as 3M. Under this system teams are essentially left to fulfil the role of both the managers and employees of an operation with a significant input in production techniques, scheduling and improvement initiatives. Advocates of this approach to employee engagement highlight that were the theory has been put into practise productivity has increased between 30 and 50% (IIE 1996). However on the other side of the spectrum such a high level of employee engagement may have negative consequences including lack of strategic focus as individual teams become ever more productive in their own areas of expertise but forget to consider how their individual team fits into the wider context. The lack of direct leadership can also be seen as providing an opportunity for accountability to be lost and thus falling performance, Bruce (2005) indicates that it is often the accountability of a leader which drives the particular individual to spur on a team or grou p to the successful completion of a task. Finally as indicated by Robbins (2003) teams have a tendency to self-reinforce behaviour, were the general attitude of a self-directing work team is generally positive this will increase the performance of both individuals and the organisation as a whole. On the other hand were the initial attitude and performance of the team is poor in the first instance and with no intervention from outside this can lead to a downward spiral of performance both for the individual and the team as a whole. However not all approaches to employee participation may be seen as quite so radical in their nature. A more frequent approach may be seen as involving employees to a greater degree without taking such a radical devolvement of control as in the self-directing work team approach. For instance Toyota may be seen as one of the leading companies in developing employee participation, Toyotas commitment to employee participation goes so far as to be for mally a part of the companys code of conduct (Toyota 2006). Strategies which may be seen as falling under the umbrella of employee engagement pursued by such companies include Kaizen the practise of including employees in quality improvement initiatives such as quality circles and other forms of consultation directly related to their area of work (Shimizu 2009). Potential benefits: One must now go on to identify the general potential benefits of employee participation both to the employee and the organisation. One of the key arguments for employee participation is that a every organisation contains a significant amount of knowledge, information and know how that is often present in grass roots level employees as much as in those occupying management positions (Adair 1989 p32-34). By encouraging employees to participate in the decision making process advocates argue that the organisation performs better as it is now making decisions based upon a much wider range of knowledge that would have been unavailable if decisions were solely made at the management level. As such the process of involving employees in the decision making process may be seen as to a large extent associated with the function of communications. Good communications are by definition a two way process (McLaren 2000 p3) which encompasses not only the sending and receiving of messages down a hierarchy but also the sending and receiving of messages back up the hierarchy and in horizontal communications. Despite the benefits of such employee participation which may be attributed to the need for an effective communication channel commentators such as Leigh (2009 p15-29) indicate that organisations are often relatively poor at the embracing the two way nature of communications leading to poor listening skills at an organisational level and thus a missed opportunity for improved performance. Another potential area for increased performance at the organisational level is that of reduced costs owing to lower labour turnover. As to the question of whether or not employee participation helps to reduce labour turnover is a debating point and depends which school of management thought is applied. On the one hand the classical schools of management theory such as those of F W Taylor would suggest that employee participation is not the most important factor in labour tur nover since the most important factor in maintaining staff loyalty was how much money they earned. On the other hand others such as Maslow argued that people do not go to work simply to earn money as in the Taylorite model but that there are several other reasons which are can be seen in the pyramid of needs: Under Maslows theory employees are not simply motivated by the need to earn money which represents only the first and possibly second stages of the pyramid. Maslow also highlights the fact that people after securing the basic needs which are provided for in the form of a salary then have additional aspirations. Using Maslows pyramid as a basis for evaluating employee motivation levels one could argue that the specific practises of employee participation constitute various stages of the pyramid beyond that of the first two stages which is considered under the classical view of management. For instance one way in which an organisation may choose to implement employee par ticipation is in the form of focus groups with reference to a specific issue such as production line down time. In this case previous to the focus group one may view the average assembly line worker as having the first two needs met owing to receiving a regular monthly salary. However once a focus group has been set up to consider a specific issue such as that mentioned it is conceivable that the next two steps of the pyramid are fulfilled as the line worker now becomes part of a team fulfilling the third need and also is given some status as the organisation by the very act of asking for their opinion is giving them a status within the organisation as someone with technical knowledge and thus a valid opinion. In theory one could argue that as an increasing number of the employees needs are met this will lead to increased motivation and morale and thus reduce the possibility of the individual wanting to leave the organisation. Costs associated with labour turn over can repr esent a considerable expense for organisations under two headings. In the first instance there is the financial cost to an organisation which includes costs associated with re-recruitment as well as any lost revenue associated directly with the loss of an employee. Secondly there is the cost to the business in disruption and lost knowledge. Research suggests that the average cost of replacing an employee is around  £3,546 which rises to around  £5,206 for more highly skilled employees (Thornton 2000). From a scale perspective the CBI (1997) estimates that in the UK labour turnover stands at 16% which rises to 25% in part time workers leaving significant room for improvement and thus a significant opportunity for cost savings especially in the part time sector. As such one can see that by reducing staff turnover by even a small amount this can deliver significantly higher financial performance for an organisation. Method: Finally having considered the potential benefits and drawbacks of employee participation one must consider the methods used in order to undertake employee participation. In many instances the benefits an organisation can gain from employee participation come from extracting knowledge from the workforce which already exists. As such many of the methods which need to be considered are issues in communications since the knowledge and information already exists but is often not being extracted and used by those higher up the corporate structure. One key method highlighted by Adiar (1989 p32-34) is that of consultation, consultation may be interpreted as any genuine attempt to gain the knowledge, feelings and opinions of the workforce which may then be used in the decision making process. As such the methods used may be broad in range from quality circles and focus groups through to town hall style meetings or suggest box schemes. However to qualify as true consultation each of th ese acts must take place before decisions are made. It is often felt by many that consultation takes place after decisions have already been made by those in senior management positions. In these cases performance may actually decrease as the workforce perceives a lack of commitment from the management within the organisation, were consultation is undertake after decisions have already truly been made this may also be seen as a misallocation of resources by the company. Another consideration of employee participation is that of employee reward. There are many options for encouraging employees to take a greater level of responsibility for their actions and thus increasing their overall level of participation. Such considerations may include share schemes, bonuses or additional annual leave related to certain performance levels. Regardless of the method employed the mechanism may be seen as a function of agency theory in which the interest of the employee and organisation can be harmonised thus increasing performance. By linking the employees personal performance to the ability for the employee as an individual to benefit the belief is that performance will increase as the employee peruses a personal opportunity. Conclusion: One conclusion would be that increased employee participation has the potential to create significant increases in performance for both the individual and the organisation as a whole. From the organisational perspective there may be significant increases in financial performance as the high costs of labour turnover are reduced as part of the increase in participation. Secondly the organisation is likely to experience a significant increase in performance with regard to its competitive advantage as the organisation will now be using its labour in potentially a more efficient way in the form of a strategic resource as opposed to a simple cash for labour transaction. From the individual perspective increased participation can lead to increases in performance as firstly an improved attitude to work increases output and secondly the benefits of the individual being able to organise their work in the way they see best contributes to work being organised in a more efficient way. However whist it is acknowledged that increased employee participation can contribute significantly to increased performance it is by no means either a panacea for all organisational ills nor is it a necessity for improving performance in all instances. One should remember that whist some companies such as Toyota have adopted a positive attitude towards employee participation there are still many successful companies which maintain a tradition approach towards the division of management and employee tasks. Furthermore companies operating such traditional approaches to the management of their employees are not limited the manufacturing sector with call centres being a prime example of were the service sector has failed to embrace increased employee participation choosing alternative methods to improve performance. Bibliography ACCEL. 2009. Historical perspective on productivity and improvement. Available online at: https://www.accel-team.com/scientific/scientific_02.html [Accessed on 14/11/09]. Adair, J. 1989. The effective communicator. London: The industry society. Bruce, W, E. 2005 March 22nd. Towards a new understanding of the leader accountability: Defining a critical construct. Journal of leadership and organisational studies. Available online at: https://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/employee-development-leadership/417985-1.html [Accessed on 14/07/09]. CBI. 1997. Benchmarking turnover. Available online at: https://www.cbi.org.uk/ndbs/PositionDoc.nsf/fb66d262805fa2f58025673a0058587b/03c2ba268bc9171580256731005664ee/$FILE/BenchMarkingTurnover.pdf [Accessed on 14/11/09]. IIE. 1996. Sustaining high performance through self-managed work teams. Journal of industrial management. Available online at: https://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/18648441.html [Accessed on 14/0 7/09] Leigh, A. 2009. The secrets of success in management. Harlow: Pearson Education. McLaren, I, R. 2000. Communication excellence using NLP to supercharge your business skills. Carmarthen: Crown House Publishing. Robbins, S, P. 2003. Organisational behaviour. 10th ed. New Jersey: FT Prentice Hall. Shimizu, K. 2009. Transforming kaizen at Toyota. Okayama University. Available online at: https://www.e.okayama-u.ac.jp/~kshimizu/downloads/iir.pdf [Accessed on 14/11/09]. Taylor, F, W. 1911. The principals of scientific management. New York: Norton Library. Thornton, J. 2000 Oct 25th. Costs of staff turnover surge to an all-time record high. The Independent. Available online at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/costs-of-staff-turnover-surge-to-an-alltime-record-high-635784.html [Accessed online 27/07/09]. Times. 2009. Employee participation. The Times Newspaper. Available online at: https://www.thetimes100.co.uk/theory/theoryemployee-participation 310.php [Accessed on 14/12/09]. Toyota. 2006. Toyota code of conduct. Available online at: https://www.toyota.dk/Images/ToyotaCodeOfConduct_tcm200-635681.pdf [Accessed on 14/11/09]. Williams, R. 1995, Dec. Self-directed work teams: A competitive advantage. Quality digest. Available online at: https://www.qualitydigest.com/nov95/html/self-dir.html [Accessed on 14/07/09].

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Watergate - 670 Words

Very few American’s over the age of 20 do not know about Watergate. They have seen the plots in movies, history books, TV shows, and Made for TV movies. Some of the media plots are real and some not so much. Contrary to popular belief â€Å"Forest Gump† was not the person to crack open Watergate [ (Groom, 1994) ]. That honor goes to a simple security guard at the Watergate Complex, Frank Wills [ (AHC, 2012) ]. Mr. Willis was making his rounds when he became aware of tape covering the locks on the doors to several different stairways. This allowed the doors to close but not lock. Mr. Wills removed the take and went on his way. Later on when Mr. Wills was once again on his rounds, he found that the tape was back. This time Wills called the†¦show more content†¦When asked to turn over the tapes, initially the President refused, his reasoning was that the Constitutional principle of executive privilege extends to the tapes. He also stated that it could compromise National Security [ (Miller Center University of Virginia, 2003) ]. Eventually Nixon relented but after reviewing the tapes there was an 18  ½ minute gap in the recordings. President’s Nixon’s secretary, Rose Mary Woods claimed that while transcribing the tapes she had accidently hit record and recorded over five minutes of the tapes. Nevertheless, she insisted she was not responsible for the additional 12 minutes of lost information. The Notes taken during the time of the lost information showed one of the topics discussed was the arrest at the Watergate Hotel [ (Miller Center University of Virginia, 2003) ]. Nixon was the first to launch an investigation on how the tapes were erased though nothing came of it. To this day, exactly what was on the tapes is unknown and as of now cannot be recovered [ (Collins, 2003) ]. Reference AHC. (2012, July 19). Watergate Scandal Timeline. Retrieved from AHC: http://www.authentichistory.com/1961-1974/6-nixon/3-watergate/timeline/ Cam, S. (2013, November 14). What Was the Watergate Scandal? Retrieved from WiseGeek: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-was-the-watergate-scandal.htm Collins, D. (2003, July 27). Watergate Tape Gap Still A Mystery . Retrieved from CBS News:Show MoreRelatedWatergate Of The Watergate Scandal1135 Words   |  5 PagesWatergate Scandal The Watergate Scandal happened almost 43 years ago; the event will never be forgotten. The Watergate scandal defined, perhaps for the first time, that a president of the United States could be portrayed as untrustworthy. Richard Nixon ran for a second term in 1972, in which he won by a huge margin. The Democratic Party had their headquarters at the high-end Watergate hotel. The break-in happened on June 17th, 1972, in which a security guard noticed the tape on the door lockRead MoreWatergate643 Words   |  3 PagesWatergate Student’s Name Professor Course Institution Date The Watergate Scandal was considered one of the most of disturbing political scandals in the history of America. This Scandal brought down a President and his administration, also made the American public distrust the government which still goes on today. In 1972 there were two break-ins at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, located in the Watergate office and apartment complex located in WashingtonRead MoreWatergate740 Words   |  3 PagesWatergate Lucia San Nicolas HIS/145 October 19, 2011 Marciano Flores Watergate The Watergate scandal shocked millions of Americans when it was revealed in 1972. The president at that time was Richard M. Nixon, who himself was involved within the scandal. The Watergate scandal took place in 1972 when a group of five men broke into the offices of the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate office complex in Washington. The five men involved in this burglary were eventuallyRead MoreWatergate637 Words   |  3 PagesWatergate Scandal Ever since the beginning of time, scandals have occurred. But one of the biggest and infamous scandals is the Watergate. Approximately forty years ago from date, a Watergate protector found a small portion of tape attached on the lock of on the National Democratic Headquarters door. Then it all began. The Watergate’s attempted break in was a part of a bigger operation by President Nixon. The rumor was Nixon’s supporters and people involved in the scandal wanted to tarnish theRead MoreWatergate722 Words   |  3 Pagesstory of Watergate is both historically and politically interesting. It began to occur from the Pentagon Papers, in which Daniel Ellsberg handed over to the press. The Pentagon Papers contained secret documents outlining the history of U.S. involvement in Vietnam (p.848).These secret documents would bring to light the deception of the the morning of June 17, 1972, at 2:30 a.m. 5 burglars were arrested inside the office of the Democratic National Committee, located inside of the Watergate buildingRead MoreWatergate3095 Words   |  13 PagesRunning head: WATERGATE 1 WATERGATE DEVRY UNIVERSITY ONLINE. OCTOBER 20, 2014 WATERGATE 2 INTRODUCTION Watergate is a word that will forever be connected to the 37th President, Richard Nixon. What started out as a botched robbery at the Democratic Reelection headquarters would later become know for bringing down the Presidency. The American public would be able to see and hear firsthand what actually occurred in the Whitehouse behind closed doors, becauseRead MoreThe Watergate Scandal1543 Words   |  7 Pagestrustworthy – or so they thought. Unfortunately, shortly after Nixon was elected to his second term of presidency in 1972, the Watergate Scandal changed America forever by creating a sense of mistrust toward the government for the American people because of The Nixon Administration’s actions. It all began on Sunday, June 18, 1972 when Frank Wills, security guard at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., found a piece of tape that was preventing a door from locking. After removing the pieceRead MoreWatergate Complex After The Watergate1781 Words   |  8 Pagesin the Watergate complex after signs of breaking in were found on the doors. No one at that time knew this subtle crime would lead to the greatest scandal in the US history and the resignation of the current President, Richard Nixon. Evidences later showed that the Watergate Incident was only a mere part of the ugly crimes the Nixon Administration had committed to achieve their ultimate goal of reelection, and Nixon had intentionally attempted a cover up to save his reputation. The Watergate incidentRead MoreThe Watergate Scandal2082 Words   |  9 PagesThe Watergate Scandal Richard Milhous Nixon was the thirty-seventh President of the United States of America from 1969 until 1974. Nixon completed his first term as President in 1973 and was re-elected for the position for the next four years. However, Nixon would have his time in the White House cut short by the series of events that occurred in the twenty-six months that followed the Watergate burglary. On June 17, 1972 five men, one White House employee and four Cubans, broke into the WatergateRead MoreWatergate Scandal2036 Words   |  9 PagesThe Watergate Scandal Essay written by Unknown The Watergate Scandal was a series of crimes committed by the President and his staff, who were found to spied on and harassed political opponents, accepted illegal campaign contributions, and covered up their own misdeeds. On June 17, 1972, The Washington Post published a small story. In this story the reporters stated that five men had been arrested breaking into the headquarters of the Democratic National Commi ttee. The headquarters was located in

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Video game Free Essays

string(56) " when they were scheduled to be available to customers\." The rise of personal computers in the mid 1980s spurred interest in computer games. This caused a crash in home Video game market. Interest in Video games was rekindled when a number of different companies developed hardware consoles that provided graphics superior to the capabilities of computer games. We will write a custom essay sample on Video game or any similar topic only for you Order Now By 1990, the Nintendo Entertainment System dominated the product category. Sega surpassed Nintendo when it introduced its Genesis System. By 1993, Sega commanded almost 60 per cent of Video game market and was one of the most recognized brand names among the children. Sega’s success was short lived. In 1995, Saturn (a division of General Motors) launched a new 32-bit system. The product was a miserable failure for a number of reasons. Sega was the primary software developer for Saturn and it did not support efforts by outside game developers to design compatible games. In addition, Sega’s games were often delivered quite late to retailers. Finally, the price of the Saturn system was greater than other comparable game consoles. This situation of Saturn’s misstep benefited Nintendo and Sony greatly. Sony’s Play Station was unveiled in 1994 and was available in 70 million homes worldwide by the end of 1999. Its â€Å"Open design† encouraged the efforts of o utside developers, resulting in almost 3,000 different games that were compatible with the PlayStation. It too featured 32-bit graphics that appealed to older audience. As a result, at one time, more than 30 per cent of PlayStation owners were over 30 years old. Nintendo 64 was introduced in 1996 and had eye-popping 64-bit graphics and entered in more than 28 million homes by 1999. Its primary users were between the age of 6 and 13 as a result of Nintendo’s efforts to limit the amount of violent and adult-oriented material featured on games that can be played on its systems. Because the company exercised considerable control over software development, Nintendo 64 had only one-tenth the number of compatible games as Sony’s PlayStation did. By 1999, Sony had captured 56 per cent of the video game market, followed by Nintendo with 42 per cent. Sega’s share had fallen to a low of 1%. Hence, Sega had two options, either to concede defeat or introduce an innovative video machine that would bring in huge sales. And Sega had to do so before either Nintendo or Sony could bring their next-generation console to market. The Sega Dreamcast arrived in stores in September 1999 with an initial price tag of $199. Anxious gamers placed 300,000 advance orders, and initial sales were quite encouraging. A total of 1. 5 million Dreamcast machines were bought within the first four months, and initial reviews were positive. The 128-bit system was capable of generating 3-D visuals, and 40 different games were available within three months of Dream cast’s introduction. By the end of the year, Sega had captured a market share to 15 per cent. But the Dreamcast could not sustain its momentum. Although its game capabilities were impressive, the system did not deliver all the functionality Sega had promised. A 56K modem (which used a home phone line) and a Web browser were meant to allow access to the Internet so that gamers could play each other online, surf the Web, and visit the Dreamcast Network for product information and playing tips. Unfortunately, these features either were not immediately available or were disappointing in their execution. Sega was not the only one in having the strategy of adding functionality beyond games. Sony and Nintendo followed the same approach for their machines introduced in 1999. Both Nintendo’s Neptune and Sony’s PlayStation 2 (PS2) were built on a DVD platform and featured a 128-bit processor. Analysts applauded the move to DVD because it is less expensive to produce and allows more storage than CDs. It also gives buyers the ability to use the machine as CD music player and DVD movie player. As Sony marketing director commented, â€Å"The full entertainment offering from Pl ay Station 2 definitely appeals to a much broader audience. I have friends in their 30s who bought it not only because it’s a gaming system for their kids, but also a DVD for them. † In addition, PlayStation 2 is able to play games developed for its earlier model that was CD-based. This gives the PS2 an enormous advantage in the number of compatible game titles that were immediately available to gamers. Further enhancing the PS2’s appeal is its high-speed modem and allows the user’s easy access to the Internet through digital cable as well as over telephone lines. This gives Sony the ability to distribute movies, music, and games directly to PS2 consoles. We are positioning this as an all-round entertainment player,† commented Ken Kutaragi, the head of Sony Computer Entertainment. However, some prospective customers were put off by the console’s initial price of $360. Shortly after the introduction of Neptune, Nintendo changed its strategies and announced the impending release of its newest game console, The GameCube. However, unlike the Neptune, the GameCube would not run on a DVD platform and also would not initially offer any online capabilities. It would be more attractively priced at $199. A marketing vice president for Nintendo explained the company’s change in direction, â€Å"We are the only com petitor whose business is video games. We want to create the best gaming system. † Nintendo also made the GameCube friendly for outside developers and started adding games that included sports titles to attract an older audience. Best known for its extra ordinary successes with games aimed at the younger set, such as Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros, and Pokemon, Nintendo sought to attract older users, especially because the average video game player is 28. Youthful Nintendo users were particularly pleased to hear that they could use their handheld Game Boy Advance systems as controllers for the GameCube. Nintendo scrambled to ensure there would be an adequate supply of Game Cubes on the date in November 2001, when they were scheduled to be available to customers. You read "Video game" in category "Essay examples" It also budgeted $450 million to market its new product, as it anticipated stiff competition during the holiday shopping season. With more than 20 million PlayStation 2 sold worldwide, the GameCube as a new entry in the video game market would make the battle for market share even more intense. For almost a decade, the video game industry had only Sega, Nintendo, and Sony; just three players. Because of strong brand loyalty and high product development costs, newcomers faced a daunting task in entering this race and being competitive. In November 2001, Microsoft began selling its new Xbox, just three days before the GameCube made its debut. Some observers felt the Xbox was aimed to rival PlayStation 2, which has similar functions that rival Microsoft’s Web TV system and even some lower level PCs. Like the Sony’s PlayStation 2, Xbox was also built using a DVD platform, but it used an Intel processor in its construction. This open design allowed Microsoft to develop the Xbox in just two years, and gave developers the option of using standard PC tool for creating compatible games. In addition, Microsoft also sought the advice of successful game developers and even incorporated some of their feedback into the design of the console and its controllers. As a result of developers’ efforts, Microsoft had about 20 games ready when the Xbox became available. By contrast, the GameCube had only eight games available. Microsoft online strategy was another feature that differentiated of the Xbox from the GameCube. Whereas Nintendo had no immediate plans for Web-based play, the Xbox came equipped with an Ethernet port for broadband access to Internet. Microsoft also announced its own Web-based network on which gamers can come together for online head-to head play and for organised online matches and tournaments. Subscribers to this service were to pay a small monthly fee and must have high-speed access to the Internet. This is a potential drawback considering that a very low percentage of households world over currently have broadband connections. By contrast Sony promoted an open network, which allows software developers to manage their own games, including associated fees charged to users. However, interested players must purchase a network adapter for an additional $39. 99. Although game companies are not keen on the prospect of submitting to the control of a Microsoft-controlled network, it would require a significant investment for them to manage their own service on the Sony-based network. Initially the price of Microsoft’s X box was $299. Prior to the introduction of Xbox, in a competitive move Sony dropped the price of the PlayStation 2 to $299. Nintendo’s GameCube already enjoyed a significant price advantage, as it was selling for $100 less than either Microsoft or Sony products. Gamers eagerly snapped up the new consoles and made 2001 the best year ever for video game sales. For the first time, consumers spent $9. 4 billion on video game equipment, which was more than they did at the box office. By the end of 2001 holiday season, 6. million PlayStation 2 consoles had been sold in North America alone, followed by 1. 5 million Xbox units and 1. 2 million Game Cubes. What ensued was an all out price war. This started when Sony decided to put even more pressure on the Microsoft’s Xbox by cutting the PlayStation 2 price to $199. Microsoft quickly matched that price. Wanting to maintain its low-price status, Nintendo in turn responded by reducing the price of its the GameCube by $50, to $149. By mid 2002, Microsoft Xbox had sold between 3. 5 and 4 million units worldwide. However, Nintendo had surpassed Xbox sales by selling 4. million Game Cubes. Sony had the benefit of healthy head start, and had shipped 32 million PlayStation 2s. However, seven years after the introduction of original PlayStation, it was being sold in retail outlets for a mere $49. It had a significant lead in terms of numbers of units in homes around the world with a 43 per cent share. Nintendo 64 was second with 30 per cent, followed by Sony PlayStation 2 with 14 per cent. The Xbox and GameCube each claimed about 3 per cent of the market, with Sega Dreamcast comprising the last and least market share of 4. 7 per cent. Sega, once an industry leader, announced in 2001 that it had decided to stop producing the Dreamcast and other video game hardware components. The company said it would develop games for its competitors’ consoles. Thus Sega slashed the price of the Dreamcast to just $99 in an effort to liquidate its piled up inventory of more than 2 million units and immediately began developing 11 new games for the Xbox, four for PlayStation 2, and three for Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance. As the prices of video game consoles have dropped, consoles and games have become the equivalent of razors and blades. This means the consoles generate little if any profit, but the games are a highly profitable proposition. The profit margins on games are highly attractive, affected to some degree by whether the content is developed by the console maker (such as Sony) or by an independent game publisher (such as Electronic Arts). Thus, the competition to develop appealing, or perhaps even addictive, games may be even more intense than the battle among players to produce the best console. In particular, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft want games that are exclusive to their own systems. With that in mind, they not only rely on large in-house staffs that design games but they also pay added fees to independent publishers for exclusive rights to new games. The sales of video games in 2001 rose to 43 per cent, compared to just 4 per cent increase for computer-based games. But computer game players are believed to be a loyal bunch, as they see many advantages in playing games on their computers rather than consoles. For one thing, they have a big advantage of having access to a mouse and a keyboard that allow them to play far more sophisticated games. In addition, they have been utilizing the Internet for years to receive game updates and modifications and to play each other over the Web. Sony and Microsoft are intent on capturing a portion of the online gaming opportunity. Even Nintendo has decided to make available a modem that will allow GameCube users to play online. As prices continue to fall and technology becomes increasingly more sophisticated, it remains to be seen whether these three companies can keep their names on the industry’s list of â€Å"hig h scorers†. How to cite Video game, Essay examples

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Shakespeare Assignment Romeo and Juliet Essay Example

Shakespeare Assignment: Romeo and Juliet Paper Romeo and Juliet is a play of many themes. Like most of Shakespeares plays, it has a main plot with many subtexts, the main plot being related to love and tragedy. The story is set in Verona, Italy in the 16thcentury. It is about two young lovers, each from two different feuding families the Montagues and the Capulets which have a historical hatred for each other. It is a deeply heart-touching tragedy when two star-crossd lovers, who are desperate to be together, are torn apart by a downward spiral of events. From love to hate and from life to death are the themes Shakespeare has based Romeo and Juliet on, as well as the most important one, fate. Fate is used right from the start of the play in chorus. Fate is used a lot in the play, this is because when the play was written people of those times were incredibly superstitious and believed in curses. A pair of star crossd lovers, take their life: right from the beginning the audience knows that two people are destined to meet it is fate, something bad will happen to them. Here Shakespeare is using Greek Mythology, the Greeks they also believed in a lot of fate and star crossed lovers, but here again Shakespeare is being optimistic, he also knows that the Elizabethan audience believe in fate and how once things are destined they happen no matter what. We will write a custom essay sample on Shakespeare Assignment: Romeo and Juliet specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Shakespeare Assignment: Romeo and Juliet specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Shakespeare Assignment: Romeo and Juliet specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Act 3, is right in the middle of the 5 acts that composed the play, containing the climax of the play. It is the pivotal scene. The first two acts build up to the climax and the last two follow down from it. Act 3 is essential to the play as a whole as this is the emotional and action-packed high point of the play, with mixed emotions of love, fate and tragedy. The general contrast of love and hate in the play is very clear in this scene. Shakespeare establishes the setting of this scene through the initial dialogue between Benvolio and Mercutio, using dramatic devices such as metaphors to express the emotions between the characters, and creating a tense atmosphere between them This Scene is very important scene for many reasons; many people talk it about as the turning point in the play. This is due to the incidents and outcomes that occur in the scene. But this is also due to the placing of the scene; its structured in the middle of the five-act play allowing the scene to change the storys events in one scene. This scene is a crucial turning point as feelings explode into an array of hatred and love, when characters personalities shine through and when others lives are cut short. Shakespeare uses fantastic techniques to draw the audience into the play. He uses oxymorons, puns, alliteration and rhyming couplets, which are all used to brilliant effect in Act 3 Scene 1, and help to develop characters, add humour and define feelings. Shakespeare brings feelings like hate and anger to a new un-explored level. Now we set the scene for act 3 scene1, the most crucial scene in the play it drives the play from a humour and comedy to sadness and grief in this scene we learn how the actors actions are influenced and intervened with fate. At this point in the play the audience had already met our leading characters: Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio and Tybalt. They also have learnt how they react to certain things for example Tybalt; he is always picking a fight for no apparent reason. We also see that how the heat and intensity of the weather is reflected in the characters personality and how it creates tension and causes dramatic effect on the audience. Benvolio and Mercutio are in the town square, the heat is intense, scorching and blistering this already makes the audience feel the tension even before the characters say a word. This is a contrasting setting to the previous scene where Romeo and Juliet are getting married. In this scene the atmosphere is cool, calm and happy. Shakespeare does this is in an attempt to add drama to the scene, Benvolio is aware that a combination of the hot weather and Mercutios hot temperament may lead to trouble with the Capulets. I pray thee, good Mercutio, lets retire: The day is hot, the Capulets are aboard, and, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl, for now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring. The language used by Benvolio here is peaceful and he wishes not to argue with Mercutio, but to merely leave and avoid trouble. Mercutio sees this as an opportunity for humorous argument with Benvolio, as he usually does, Come, come, thou art as hot as a jack in thy mood as any in Italy; and as soon moved to be moody, and as soon moody to be moved. The language here is of a comedic and slightly provoking style. Shakespeare uses this type and style and language to indicate to the audience that something dramatic is yet to happen, Romeo and Juliet play is based around the hatred of the Montagues and the Capulets. Hatred is crucial in this play because it is the main theme of the play; hate controls the play and shows the consequences to peoples violent actions. The Montague and Capulet family demonstrate hatred and violence as soon as they are introduced to the audience. The families seem to be in competition with each other. We are not told why or when this quarrel began but we are told it is an ancient grudge, a constant conflict between the two names. They are very alike and well known throughout Verona. The people of Verona are aware of the grudge between the two families. Mercutio accuses Benvolio of being a trouble maker by saying inappropriate things about him. Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyesThou hast quarrelled with a man for coughing in the street, because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sunThis shows us Mercutios blatant disregard for the truth just so he can argue and provoke other people. Also, these statements are ironic, because they are actually about him but he is pinpointing them on Benvolio. At this point the audience know that it is Mercutio who wishes to quarrel and not Benvolio. He is saying that Benvolio is such a peace maker that he would never quarrel with anyone over something ridiculous. Shakespeare is basically saying that young that young men fight for no reason and just fight to prove that they are better than each other. When we first meet Mercutio we see him as being calm and relaxed. He is trying to cheer up his friend Romeo as he is love struck. He shows he cares by saying Nay gentle Romeo we must have you dance. The qualities that Mercutio portray are being kind and considerate. The tone of language that Mercutio uses is one of a very friendly and relaxed nature. He is not acting in a way that should attract attention towards him. He is very restrained and is acting in a normal manner. Then Mercutio starts to mock Romeo by referring to classical references of love, because at this point Romeo is deeply in love with Roseline. You are a lover; borrow cupids wings. When Mercutio says this we admire him for his wit and cleverness but we dont like the way he is mocking his friend. By referring to words like cupid we automatically think of love which we admire. Also to mock his friend Mercutio also refers to physical views of love. By saying If love be rough with you be rough with love, he shows us tha t he has a vulgar mind and that he sees love more physical than spiritual (Romeo sees love spiritually). Mercutio also shows his spontaneity and creativity very vividly. The Queen Mabth speech goes from being a speech with a fairytale quality to a speech with very violent images. Her wagon-spokes made of long spiders legs, shows this magical quality, while and then dreams of cutting foreign throats, has the opposite affect and is very violent. Mercutios famous Queen Mab speech is important for the stunning quality of its poetry and for what it reveals about Mercutios character, but it also has some interesting thematic implications. Mercutio is trying to convince Romeo to set aside his lovesick melancholy over Rosaline and come along to the Capulet feast. When Romeo says that he is depressed because of a dream, Mercutio launches on a lengthy, playful description of Queen Mab, the fairy who supposedly brings dreams to sleeping humans. The main point of the passage is that the dreams Queen Mab brings are directly related to the person who dreams them-lovers dream of love, soldiers of war, etc. But in the process of making this rather prosaic point Mercutio falls into a sort of wild bitterness in which he seems to see dreams as destructive and delusional. Mercutios name comes from the word Mercury which suggests that Mercutio is not only fast with movement but is also fast with words. His name also means Messenger of the Gods, which also means that he is a powerful man. The arrival of Tybalt brings a lot of tension to the scene. Benvolios fear comes true as the Capulets approach; Benvolio forewarns Mercutio; Here by my head, here come the Capulets! Benvolio is panic stricken ,here we notice Shakespeares use of exclamation mark, this would cause the actor on stage to act like he is panic stricken, causing the audience to feel the further build up of tension. Mercutio being Mercutio says he doesnt care; By my heel I care not. Here again we see lots of word play; Shakespeare using body parts to contrast and compare for example the head is the most important and the heel is the least we also see Mercutio mocking Benvolio putting all his effort to Waste. Mercutio thinks of Tybalt as very good swordsman, who keeps in time, distance and proportions. He is a duellist, a gentleman He makes a big deal of sword fighting being as precise as music; he could cut through any shirt button you chose. Mercutio also thinks that Tybalt is a poser a very tall man, also a very good whore! These fashion manges, these pardon-mes, who stand so much on the new form, that they cannot sit at ease on the old bench He is implying that a man who wears clothes so tight must be very effeminate and proud of his body like a women, who shows off her body to appeal to men, he is saying that Tybalt is homosexual, because of the way he dresses, and he must have great difficulty in sitting down. In the play Mercutio uses words such as alla stoccata and passado because they are fencing terms. Mercutio uses these words because he is mocking Tybalt as Mercutio thinks he fights by the book of arithmetic, meaning he fights accurately without permission. Tybalt wants to fight Romeo in Act 3 scene 1 because they have learnt to hate each other while growing up, because the quarrel is an ancient grudge. A family name is very a precious feature, they believed they had to honour their family name and be strong in all situations to come be the best, so everyone looked up to them. We also discover in the play that Tybalt hates Romeo because he is of the Montague family. In Act 3 scene 1 Tybalt is furious at Romeos friends but mainly at Romeo because they gate crashed the Capulets party. Tybalt felt as if they were being imprudent towards the Capulets and their guests. So by doing this Tybalt agrees with Lord Capulet not to cause a fight but in his soliloquy he speaks out his revenge; Patience performance with whitful choler meeting makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting: I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall, Now seaming sweet, covert to bittrest gall. This is a key part of the play showing Tybalts volatile temper and how al though he had to retreat from fighting he will hold the grudge on to brings up on a later date. These lines cleverly used by Shakespeare to hint to the audience of what is to come. His actions throughout this scene seam to suggest that he is a catalyst for tragedy through his indignant attitude and family honour. After Benvolio and Mercutios small argument, true to Benvolios prediction, Tybalt and other Capulets arrive. Tybalt says to his companions to stay close follow me close, for I will speak to them. He says this because he wants them to belt up in case a fight breaks out. Tybalt greets his enemies Gentleman, good den, a word with one of you. The way he greats the Montagues shows that his purpose for arrival is strictly formal and not for fighting, Tybalts arrival and greeting irritates Mercutio who is already feeling irritated by the heat, and because they are enemies he takes it as an insult to be greeted by them. Mercutio also thinks that Tybalt is trying to intimidate him, which also makes him want to fight him. This is the start of the slow build up to the dramatic high point in the play. Shakespeare also shows how the conversation between Mercutio and Tybalt is getting less friendly from the way the language is used when they talk to each other, from you to thou. In Shakespearian t imes, it was ruder to address someone as thou then as you. Unusually Tybalt refuses to fight with Mercutio at this moment. The arrival of the Capulets makes a fight look more and more likely and Tybalts conversation with Mercutio makes it clear that he does not want to leave without one, so he deliberately twists Tybalts words to provoke him into having a fight And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something; make it a word and a blow. This may spark off anger in Tybalt because he is being made to look the fool because he doesnt actually want to fight with Mercutio. He still continues trying to provoke Tybalt into having a fight Consort? What, dost thou make us minstrels? Mercutio deliberately takes the word consort to mean a musical player, rather than a friend. He is goes to every extent to provoke Tybalt in to having a fight but the audience doesnt approve of the way he is proving Tybalt is aggressive. Mercutios language puns on what Tybalt says and insults him using his own words, Heres my fiddlestick, heres that shall make you dance At this point in the scene we only approve of what Mercut io is doing because of his language and wit, As Tybalt and Mercutio exchange verbal blows the excitement builds up and a fight seems almost inevitable. Neither of them wants to be humiliated by the other especially in front of the other men. At this point Benvolio intervenes because he doesnt want them to fight, he tells Mercutio and Tybalt that they are in the public and everyone can see them so either just drop the matter or fight somewhere else. We talk in the public haunt of men; either withdraw into some private place or reason coldly of your grievance or else depart. Here, all eyes gaze on us .Benvolio suggests that they take this somewhere private; Benvolio and the audience are worried that Mercutio and Tybalt could do something fatal given the situation; the intense heat but also bearing in mind Mercutios mad mood. This situation could go from worse to bad. Benvolios fear soon becomes reality Mercutio refuses to back off and replies; mens eyes were made to look, and let them look gaze. I will not budge for no mans pleasure I. Mercutio here is saying that Tybalt and his gang can stay because hes not going anywhere; he is again mocking Benvolio and taking no heed from him whatsoever. The I is used twice in this quote, which emphasises his stubbornness. After all the tension on stage between the characters, Romeo enters into this scene feeling peace loving and good-tempered. He is not in the mood for fighting with anyone. Whereas Mercutio and Tybalt are both in anger and provocative moods. Romeo is happy because he just got married to Juliet, but obviously the other characters on stage are unaware or this, at this point the audience knows more. The timing of Romeos entrance is very crucial as it gives the first sign of turning point of the play in my opinion. The mood of the audience changes from tense to worried and sympathetic. The audience now feel sorry for Romeo but also they want to know what he will do giving the thought that he has landed in a situation which has no intention of getting better. They feel sorry because he has to face a fight straight after his marriage, which no newly wed would ever think of doing. But now that Romeo had entered the scene there is no way that he could turn back, the audience is eager to know if he will live up to his reputation or be forgiving to Tybalt because to just married his cousin Juliet. Shakespeare is really building up tension here for the forthcoming tragedy. Here again we can link this to fate if Romeo hadnt entered the scene was not his fault that Mercutio died would we still have the same outcome? Would Romeo still be destined for the same fate, here again the audience are forced to rethink all the possibilities and also that is this really fate or just accidents happening one after the other. Tybalt now tries to provoke Romeo into having a fight; he uses Mercutios tactics by insulting him. Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford no better term than this: thou art a villain. Tybalt says that the only reason he loves him is because he is a villain, however Romeo doesnt have a clue what he is talking about because he is unaware that the only reason Tybalt is here because he wont let the fact slip that Romeo a Montague attended a Capulet party. By calling him a villain he really is insulting Romeo and is expecting Romeo to fire up and fight him at once, but so are the other characters on stage. The audience now really knows that this is going to be a tragedy and the outcome will be tragic despite all the possibilities. But everyone is surprised when Romeo replies calmly to Tybalts insult, but acknowledges that it is an insult, but makes it seem like to everyone it isnt. Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such greeting, villain am I none; therefore farewell, I see thou knowest me not Romeo here is not only being patient but he is explaining to Tybalt that he knows that he is angry; hes not even showing any concern to the fact he has been insulted straight in his face. Here Shakespeare is again using dramatic irony; the audience again know more than the characters on stage. Shakespeare had Romeo tell Tybalt in a riddle rather then tell him straight, that he and Juliet have got married. The riddle makes it a lot more confusing for the people on stage. Tybalt continues to make it clear that he is expecting Romeo to fight he does in two different ways: Firstly by verbally challenging and insulting him and secondly by physically reacting; drawing his sword. Boy this shall not excuse the injuries thou hast done me, therefore turn and draw. Tybalt insults him by calling him a boy and at that time the word boy used to be used for slaves. Romeo replies in a riddle again so no one knows what he is talking about and think he is a coward trying to get out of a fight. He says he loves the Capulets just as much as he loves his own family. I do protest I never injured thee, but love thee better than thou canst devise. Till thou shalt know the reason of my love; and so good Capulet which I tender none so clearly as mine own will be satisfied. This establishes that Romeo wants to get on with Tybalt for the sake of his true love, Juliet. This shows the contrast between love and hate because Romeo wont fight because of his love for Juliet overpowers his hate for Tybalt. Mercutio intervenes because he knows Romeo wont fight and he doesnt want to be seen as a coward because he is friends with Romeo, also because feels the need for vengeance: Tybalt mocks him and Romeo, but Romeo will not fight so Mercutio feels it is his duty in honour of the Capulets to fight, Mercutio is also very hung up on the offensive remarks Tybalt said both about him and Romeo, so he makes it difficult for Tybalt to reject his challenge by insulting him and drawing swords. Tybalt then reacts by drawing his sword too, because he never backs out of a fight once provoked, Although we learn a lot about the power of hate in this scene, we also see the power of love and devotion towards friends. We see the powerful force of love when Romeo puts aside his hatred towards Montagues and refuses to fight Tybalt because they are now related because of his utmost adoration for Juliet Mercutio plays with Tybalts name by calling him a rat- catcher which in Elizabethan times was the lowest of all jobs. Here Shakespeare is using word play Mercutio is continuously taunting Tybalt and making a fool out of him in front of his own men. The audience are worried about Mercutio now due to his restless and rude behaviour and the fact that he has taken up a fight with Tybalt doesnt seem to cheer him up either. But bear in mind from here on Mercutios actions are due to lack of knowledge and foolishness, but also one might link this reputation and how Mercutio is trying to live up to the reputation of Montagues. In reply Tybalt says what wouldst thou have with me? Mercutio then says Good King of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives This is a sneer at Tybalts name as it is the name of the King of Cats in Reynard the Fox. Mercutios reference to one of Tybalts nine lives shows he is fighting to defend the Montague rather than to kill. The theme of conflict is made evident by copious use of swordplay throughout the play. This dramatic affect reminds the audience of the theme. Mercutio and Tybalt both draw their swords to create a dramatic effect. Shakespeares language suggests their reasons as he uses short speeches for Tybalt and long speeches for Mercutio. This annoys Mercutio as Tybalt pays no attention to him Romeo tries to break the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt by stepping between them in order to prevent them both from doing something stupid like getting injured or even killed. He tries telling them both that they are doing a shameful thing, but none of this does any good. Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage! This shows that Romeo is beginning to get worried about the situation. His entrance also breaks up Tybalt and Mercutios argument and seems to calm Tybalt down. Romeo seems worried and anxious at the fact that he may be seen by someone nearby who may possibly tell the Prince. His anxiety sustains the tension in the scene. His intervention changes the outcome of the fight, if he had not interfered, Mercutio may have survived. Furthermore the audience and the characters on stage dont know it is fatal wound. Mercutio uses the word scratch to show that he is a tough man and a blow like that from Tybalt only feels like a scratch to him. He also says cat-scratch so he is insulting Tybalt even when wounded. Mercutio responds to Romeos intervention by shouting short words and phrases of abuse. His use of puns are not as light-hearted as they were at the beginning of the scene, he uses them more seriously to get at Romeo. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. Here, he uses curses as direct accusations towards both Romeo and Tybalt, which show his emotions. This means that come tomorrow and you will find me a dead man, it also means come tomorrow and youll find me a brave man. This shows that it is serious enough tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door. If he fell down a well he wouldnt b able to find his way out, and the only way he will be going through is through the church door in a coffin. Shakespeare has him saying and making theses jokes to show how even when fatally wounded Mercutio still wants to be the centre of attention Being attacked by a man who Mercutio calls a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat to scratch a man to dead. A man who he thinks of lower in status to him annoys him because his reputation is tarnished. Shakespeare is suggesting that young men only fight to show who is stronger, to show who the real man is also to save their reputation. Mercutio gets really annoyed about the way he is injured because he was protecting his best friend but his best friend got in the way.Shakespeare is suggesting Mercutio is more bothered about his reputation. Mercutio is annoyed about the way he is injured. A baggort, a rouge a villain, that fights by the book of arithmetic, why devil you come between us? I was hurt under your arm. He is saying that Tybalt always plays by the rules and he is a low life. As he is dying he curses both households A plague o both your houses. Repeating this curse three times as he wants them to realize the impact of their actions, and will not forgive them. In the 1500s to do something three times was considered a kind of magical power which was believed to come true. The reason he does this is because he realizes that his forthcoming death is as a direct result of their feud. He tried to help the Montagues but did not receive anything in return. Mercutios death is a pivotal moment in the scene, there is an abrupt change in mood from the immediately previous scene, after he is killed by Tybalt. He is a character full of life and energy, making the scene comedic and humorous. When Mercutio is killed the tone to the rest of the play becomes more serious and violent. Changing the play from what seemed to be a comedy into a tragedy. At this point the audience would be shocked by, and angry with Tybalt as Mercutio was only joking with him. After Mercutio dies Romeo says my reputation stained meaning that he now has a bad reputation. Shakespeare has him saying this to show that all boys care about is what other people think of them and they dont care about anyone but themselves. Romeo is left alone on stage for a moment and speaks aloud. O sweet Juliet! Thy beauty hath made me effeminate, and in my temper softend valors steel! Romeos soliloquy reveals his thoughts and emotions to the audience. He is annoyed about what has happened to his best friend and will take it out on Tybalt. When Benvolio brings the news that Mercutio is dead, Romeo seeks out and slays Tybalt in revenge. Romeo blames Mercutios death partly on himself and feels guilty of his actions, ashamed that love has softened his bravery. The reason he acted the way he did was because of his marriage with Tybalts cousin. Shakespeare has him saying these to show young men are supposed to be brave and strong and he isnt. Romeo yet again is worried about what people think of him; also Shakespeare is asking the question why young men think being in love makes them soft. Benvolio praises Mercutio that gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds. As he thinks Mercutio was brave fighting like that but Shakespeare is being sarcastic and he wants the audience to think and ask questions like what is brave about picking a fight? At first it appears that Romeo is not going to avenge his friends death. This days black fate on moe days doth depend Romeo is saying that he is going to do nothing about his friends death and let others sort it out. Shakespeare has Tybalt return on stage as he wants the audience to think there is going to be another fight. Romeo is very angry with Tybalt because he has just killed his best friend so this fuels another fight in which Romeo wants to kill Tybalt. Shakespeare has Romeo speak with fury for the first time in the play and fiery eyed fury be my conduct of new he does this to show a different side of Romeo because all we have seen so far is a happy peaceful loving character. Romeo isnt a very good fighter but he is able to beat Tybalt in a fight . I think he is able to do this because he can fuel others to make them do things. When Tybalt returns, Romeo ignores his previous respectful attitude and instead challenges Tybalt, reminding him that it was he who killed Mercutio and consequently Tybalts soul must join his. Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him. His reason for killing Tybalt is simply because he loathes Tybalt for causing Mercutios death, and wants to show how annoyed he is by fighting Tybalt. It was common in the 1500s that a friend would avenge another friends life if it was taken away. Tybalt also speaks the language of hate to him. thou wretched boy he is still insulting Romeo as he fights him. He is trying to show Mercutios death hasnt troubled him in the slightest way. I think the audience would think Tybalt deserved it as he was just as bad as Mercutio in the sense that he insulted both Mercutio and Romeo, even though Romeo was trying to make peace between them by speaking words of love. The audience would also feel sympathetic towards Mercutio because he was only intending it to be a joke between him and Tybalt. The killing of Tybalt is simply the tail end of the climatically killing of Mercutio. Without Mercutios death, there is no need for Tybalts death. Perhaps Tybalts death is better described as the reason for Mercutio death. As soon as Tybalt falls to the ground, Romeo stands in a daze, realizing what he has done and is immediately shocked, stunned. He realizes he should not have said what he said, and should have thought about his actions more carefully, controlling his temper. O, I am fortunes fool. Here, Romeo regrets his actions and claims he is a victim of bad luck. The audience knows there is worse to come, but Romeo, himself, does not. This is an example of dramatic irony, where the audience knows what the character does not. Murdering Tybalt was a terrible thing to do because he was Juliets favourite cousin and also Romeo is now a part of the Capulet family and murdering Tybalt would surely mean the Capulets will be against him being accepted as one of them. Fate played a major role in this scene because the duel could have happened anywhere in Verona. The fact that it took place at the exact time and place where Romeo was heading could only have happened by fate. The line which is most telling to the theme of fate in this scene of Romeo and Juliet is. O, I am fortunes fool. At this point Romeo realizes his life is out of control. Right after Mercutios death Romeo says: This days black fate on mo days doth depend; Romeo knows fate has entered into his life and he wants to blame fortune for the two deaths that have just occurred, rather than to think about what he could have done to stop them occurring. The way in which the play is written perhaps makes us more sympathetic towards Romeo, because we know that he has just married Juliet, whilst the characters on stage do not. Romeo could have acted in a more sensible way to Tybalts challenge, instead of coming out with the words, which provoked Mercutio into violence. His intervention between Mercutio and Tybalt may have caused his friends death. His attempts to remain loyal to both his friends and his wife Juliet were doomed to failure. It is clear that conflict plays a major role in this scene of the play. The theme of conflict is expressed through both physical and verbal fighting as well as the interaction between characters and the use of wordplay. In this act of the play you have Juliets favourite cousin trying to kill Romeo, who is now married to Juliet and also related to Tybalt. By marrying Juliet Romeo has symbolically tried putting the feud behind him, but finds he cannot. When his best friend, Mercutio is killed by Tybalt, Romeo wants nothing but revenge which puts into action a series of events, one of them being his banishment from Verona, leading to a tragic end for the lovers. The Capulets and Montagues hate each other, Juliet has an arranged marriage to Paris, and there is a plague in the city of the messenger. So it is a case of both bad luck and fate that cause the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. This scene is important to the play as it is the pivotal scene and where loves turns into tragedy, misfortune and, of course, death. Where the mood and atmosphere of the play changes.