Oxford University free essay sample

Stating that think its unfair that some people cant get a visa, does not count as much. However, urging you not to use I in essays can fail in two ways. Firstly, you could still write about your own feelings and opinions using different phrases, and secondly, not all uses of the first person are bad. Its a good idea to stay clear of phrases such as I think, or in my opinion, unless youre evaluating a claim. However, there is no apparent reason for not saying l will first define the key terms. Using the first person in this way will make a text more approachable. Moreover, using phrases starting with I, you avoid using the passive voice which many find more difficult to read. Having said this, some markers still consider it preferable not to use the first person. Should your tutor or marker be one of them, you may want to play it safe. We will write a custom essay sample on Oxford University or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Dont use we when you mean l. If you are the sole author, the use off plural is technically not correct. However, even a tutor who hates such phrases will not mark you down: Its the argument and general structure of our essay that count for much more. One area where there is no room for argument is the use of colloquialisms, slang, or street language. Academic writing is formal writing, and you might be penalized for using the wrong register. A little bit of informality here or there will not normally matter much. Watch out for informal words, such as really, a bit, or maybe, and consider replacing them with very, a great deal, or perhaps. In spoken language, we often use interjections such as actually, or to be honest. These, too, dont belong into an academic essay. Consider the following example: To be honest, I dont think much of this theory is something we might say to a colleague of ours.When writing an essay, you could put this as: It is clear from the evidence presented in this essay that the applications of this theory are limited. The following list further illustrates what is meant by formal and informal English. The formal words are included in brackets in each case: Ask for (request), carry out (conduct), chance (opportunity), find out (discover), get better (improve), get rose (deteriorate), guess (estimate), look into (investigate), K (satisfactory), tell (inform), worried (concerned).Euphemisms, such as passed away for die, are another aspect of language you should not use in your essays: if you write about and mean die, then say so. Clarity and accuracy are paramount. For these reasons academic writing can be rather tentative and cautious. This is the case because we are not after grabbing headlines, but we write accurately what we know. If our data suggest that X possibly leads to Y, we say just that. In this case we should never say that X leads to Y. In academia we are often unsure what really goes on, and we should be upfront about this.Similarly, contractions?such as dont (for do not) or cant (for cannot)?are not commonly considered formal enough for academic writing. Some of your readers will consider this convention ridiculous; others take it as a sign that you have not understood you should write in a scholarly fashion. To play it safe, use the full forms at any time. This particular academic convention seems to ease more and more. Some students struggle with the rules of capitalization: which letters are Ritter as capital letters. The easiest one is that every sentence starts with a capital letter. Names and titles (called proper nouns) are also written with capital letters, unless there is a specific reason not to. So, we write the name of Mark Grandmother with capital letters, but the special case of the pod is written with a small one. Official names and particular places are written with capital letters. Ifs thus the Department of Health, and Oxford University. However, when we write about general places, we dont use capital letters.

Tension and suspense in the novel Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Essay Example For Students

Tension and suspense in the novel Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Essay Marquez subtly transforms a historical murder into a crime thriller in his novel, Chronicle of a Death Foretold. The very first line of the novel informs the reader about the murder, which prompts the reader to discover how and why the protagonist, Santiago Nasar will be murdered. Marquez appraises the foretold death but leaves it to the reader to explore a number of factors responsible for the death such as honour codes, the orthodox society or the laxity of the people that culminated into the death of the protagonist. Marquez weaves the story of Santiago’s murder with the gossamer of tension and suspense. His web successfully traps the reader as no one is ready to take the responsibility of the murder which had even been foretold. We will write a custom essay on Tension and suspense in the novel Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The greatest tension Marquez builds in this novel is by removing the element of suspense itself from the novel and thrusting the plot in a vein similar to a Greek tragedy. Marquez’s line, â€Å"On the day they were going to kill him†(Marquez 1) is able to draw a parallel between his work and the Greek tragedies where the audience was lured by the theatre despite knowing the sum and substance of the tragic plot. Marquez uses the tool of magic realism to make his story â€Å"Part morality tale, part fairy tale†, in addition to Greek tragedy. The element of prophetic dreams perplexes the reader as he instinctively tries to explore if the dreams have any mortal innuendoes. The reader knows everything essential to the plot from the opening page, yet he is intrigued by the novel until the final paragraph, wherein the murder is described. In addition, it is not strange that by the time Marquez elucidates it, the reader is already grappling with a number of key themes su ch as revenge, honour, racism and religion, confused as to what it was that accentuated the murder. Marquez orchestrates the story through an unnamed third person narrator who can only bring forth the information he gleans through his investigation although he is a next kin to the deceased. The reader feels baffled, as even the journalistic style cannot kindle the past that transpired twenty-seven years ago, in this particular rigid Latin American society. Marquez’s style is unique in that although the narrator tells the story in the first person, yet he also relates everything everyone is thinking. As in his other novels Marquez explores the theme of amnesia, thereby obscuring the evidence and testimony for the murder that took place so long ago. Most of the people who witnessed the gory spectacle are either dead or are suffering from obliviousness. It is strange that the policeman, Leandro Pornoy, shows no interest in the activities of the two drunken brothers. The Colonel, Lazaro Aponte, says â€Å"No one is arrested just on suspicion,†(Marquez 57) although he hims elf confiscated the knives from the Vicario brothers. Apart from the strange characters, the title of the novel is itself an oxymoron for the reader, as death can never be foretold. Ironically in the words of the translator, Gregory Rabassa, â€Å"The title is quite fitting, therefore, in that the death in question has been announced and is foretold, and through it Marquez has managed to keep the shock and horror of surprise.† Marquez’s style is immaculate when the narrator talks about the murder in the opening sentence of the novel; â€Å"On the day they were going to kill him†. With the technique of flashback he foreshadows the death of the protagonist with the very beginning of the novel. The reader is all the more terse and tense to know of the death but no reasons behind its justification. .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed , .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed .postImageUrl , .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed , .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed:hover , .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed:visited , .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed:active { border:0!important; } .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed:active , .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub9c15db89b6322795113f1e5121701ed:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Brutus' Tragic Flaw EssayThe author employs various techniques to create an element of tension and suspense in the mind of the reader. The identities of the murderers, Pedro and Pablo Vicario, are given but the author screens the details of the gruesome murder until the very end. The journalistic style adopted by the author serves as another impediment in the mind of the reader. Jeffry Lilburn says â€Å"what begins as an attempt to fill the gaps, to find out once and for all what really happened that dark and drizzly morning becomes instead a parody of any attempt to recapture and reconstruct the past†. Furthermore no doubt the mind of the reader oscillates between the past and the present. The writer shows the superficial nature of the townsfolk, a closely- ­Ãƒ ¢ knit group of people who suffer from inertia and laxity when it comes to honour code. The reader does not understand the double standards of the society where women must have their hymen intact while men are allowed to relish the delinquent lives fornicating, â€Å"in the apostolic lap of Maria Alejandrina Cervantes†(Marquez 3). There seems to be too much hue and cry on virginity with reference to Angela in the novel. The reader does not reconcile himself as to what is responsible behind such canons: is it the influence of the Spanish culture on the Latin American one or the primal instincts of ancient people. However, it appears that the society is firm on the issues of honour and virginity. The reader is further confused when Angela is convinced that she has slept with Bayardo and lost her virginity for the first time. â€Å"No one would have thought, nor did anyone say, that Angela Vicario wasn’t a virgin†. How does she cross the physical and metaphorical barriers and lose her honour? It is the irony of human kind that the fickle minded society takes Santiago Nasar as the perpetrator although they had never been seen together. The reader cannot also understand why Placida Linero, renowned as a great interpreter of dreams fails to interpret the dream of her only son. By blending his journalistic style with the artistic aspect of literature, Marquez confuses the reader as to what he is reading: an account of history, fantasy or a murder mystery. While the narrative moves speedily the reader is left ruminating as to what must have happened between Bayardo and Angela on their connubial night. The reader is tensed when it comes to whether her family will accept Angela or not. It is here that Marquez creates foremost tension in the mind of the reader who is impelled to question the honour codes indoctrinated in the minds of the townsfolk. And the reader questions himself if Angela is not as sinful as her perpetrator is? And when she blames Santiago to be the violator of her honour, the reader is as tensed as a wire. Is Santiago really the seducer? Why does the society sympathize with a woman who has broken the unwritten laws of virginity, by sleeping with ‘many’ and even with the others who are in the other world? Another fact that confuses the reader is the lack of enough details of a character as important as Angela. Marquez moves ahead without providing any such explanations. Marquez presents such twists in the novel that the reader sometimes blames Santiago of seducing Angela, given Santiago’s character as a philanderer. But at the same time the reader exonerates him of this act when his character is compared to a Christ like figure. Marquez paints Santiago, â€Å"a stigma of a crucified Christ† a scapegoat for the sins and the ignorance of society. But can there be a parallel between a man who grabbed Divina’s â€Å"whole pussy†(Marquez 12) and Christ? It is here that Marquez creates a labyrinth through his laconic writing. At the end of the novel, far away from the poetic justice, the reader stands on slippery grounds as to decide who Santiago is: a Biblical figure or Satanic one. In the words of his mother, Santiago was a man whose â€Å"skin was so delicate that it couldn’t stand the noise of starch†(Marquez 5). And the biggest suspense, which bewilders the reader, is the big question, why nobody stops Santia go’s murder? .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187 , .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187 .postImageUrl , .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187 , .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187:hover , .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187:visited , .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187:active { border:0!important; } .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187:active , .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187 .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6e4c012b49d1d19e5cbbebd6c945c187:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Death of a Traveling Salesman misc EssayThe translator Gregory Rabassa builds up the tension in the very first scene. He uses short sentences to create a powerful flow of emotions in the reader’s mind. For instance through the alliteration in the line â€Å"hallucination, holding his hanging intestines in his hands†(Marquez 121) the reader is confused to decipher the implication of this poetic technique incorporated into prose. Further his words, constituting a hyperbole, â€Å"all his intestines exploded out†(Marquez 121) petrify the reader. The metaphor of â€Å"mirror of memory†(Marquez 5) suggests that the truth will never be uncovered and t he importance of the event has faded. The phrase â€Å"scattered shards†(Marquez 5) infers there is danger in the search. Overall, it looks that the narrator’s quest for the truth will be hindered by the lapse in time. And this is the dexterity of the Marquez that even now the reader cannot decide who to blame for the murder of Santiago: the honour code, the collective society, the Spanish culture or man’s protective and possessive attitude toward women.

Learn About Sudan - Geography, History, and More

Learn About Sudan - Geography, History, and More Population: 43,939,598 (July 2010 estimate)Capital: KhartoumBordering Countries: Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, South Sudan, and UgandaLand Area: 967,500 square miles (2,505,813 sq km)Coastline: 530 miles (853 km)Sudan is located in northeastern Africa and it is the largest country in Africa. It is also the tenth largest country in the world based on area. Sudan is bordered by nine different countries and it is located along the Red Sea. It has a long history of civil wars as well as political and social instability. Most recently Sudan has been in the news because South Sudan seceded from Sudan on July 9, 2011. The elections for secession began on January 9, 2011 and the referendum to secede passed strongly. South Sudan seceded from Sudan because it is mostly Christian and it has been engaged in a civil war with the Muslim north for several decades.History of SudanSudan has a long history that begins with its being a collection of small kingdoms until Egypt conquered the area in the early 1800s. At this time however, Egypt only controlled the northern portions, while the south was made up of independent tribes. In 1881, Muhammad ibn Abdalla, also known as Mahdi, began a crusade to unify western and central Sudan which created the Umma Party.In 1885, Mahdi led a revolt but he died soon after and in 1898, Egypt and Great Britain regained joint control of the area.In 1953, however, Great Britain and Egypt gave Sudan the powers of self-government and put it on a path to independence. On January 1, 1956, Sudan gained full independence. According to the United States Department of State, once it gained independence Sudans leaders began to renege on promises to create a federal system which began a long period of civil war in the country between the northern and southern areas as the north has long tried to implement Muslim policies and customs.As a result of the long civil wars, Sudans economic and political progress has been slow and a large part of its population has been displ aced to neighboring countries over the years. Throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, Sudan underwent several changes in government and suffered from high levels of political instability along with the continuing civil war. Beginning in the early 2000s though, the government of Sudan and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) came up with several agreements that would give South Sudan more autonomy from the rest of the country and put it on a path to becoming independent.In July 2002 steps to end the civil war began with the Machakos Protocol and on November 19, 2004, the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A worked with the United Nations Security Council and signed a declaration for a peace agreement that would be enacted by the end of 2004. On January 9, 2005 the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).Government of SudanBased on the CPA, Sudans government today is called a Government of National Unity. This is a power sharing type of government that exists between the Nation al Congress Party (NCP) and the SPLM/A. The NCP however, carries most of the power. Sudan also has an executive branch of government with a president and a legislative branch that is made up of the bicameral National Legislature. This body consists of the Council of States and the National Assembly. Sudans judicial branch is made up of several different high courts. The country is also divided into 25 different states.Economics and Land Use in SudanRecently, Sudans economy has begun to grow after many years of instability due to its civil war. There are a number of different industries in Sudan today and agriculture also plays a large role in its economy. The main industries of Sudan are oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments and automobile assembly. Its main agricultural products include cotton, peanuts, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sugarcane, tapioca, mangos, papaya, bananas, sweet potatoes, sesame and livestock.Geography a nd Climate of SudanSudan is a very large country with a total land area of 967,500 square miles (2,505,813 sq km). Despite the countrys size, most of Sudans topography is relatively flat with a featureless plain according to the CIA World Factbook. There are some high mountains in the far south and along the countrys northeast and western areas however. Sudans highest point, Kinyeti at 10,456 feet (3,187 m), is located on its far southern border with Uganda. In the north, most of Sudans landscape is desert and desertification is a serious issue in nearby areas.The climate of Sudan varies with location. It is tropical in the south and arid in the north. Parts of Sudan also have a rainy season which varies. Sudans capital Khartoum, which is located in the central part of the country where the White Nile and the Blue Nile rivers (both of which are tributaries of the Nile River) meet, has a hot, arid climate. The January average low for that city is 60ËšF (16ËšC) while the June average high is 106ËšF (41ËšC).To learn more about Sudan, visit the Geography and Maps section on Sudan on this web site.References Central Intelligence Agency. (27 December 2010). CIA - The World Factbook - Sudan. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/su.htmlInfoplease.com. (n.d.). Sudan: History, Geography, Government, and Culture- Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0107996.htmlUnited States Department of State. (9 November 2010). Sudan. Retrieved from: state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5424.htmWikipedia.com. (10 January 2011). Sudan - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudan

Whaling May Result in Weals

Whaling May Result in Weals Whaling May Result in Weals Whaling May Result in Weals By Maeve Maddox Commenting on the Whelps are Puppies post, Anthony Patterson, MD had this to add to our vocabulary for talking about raised places on the skin: Regarding whelps your article is of course quite correct. Â  However, in medical school, I was taught it was an inappropriate substitution for wheal which is a more or less round and evanescent elevation of the skinwith the emphasis on evanscent as it is a sign of urticaria [hives] (Tabors Medical Dictionary). In writing the post I failed to mention the familiar word weal; the medical term wheal is new to me. Apparently both weal and wheal are related to wale and whale (in the sense of whipping or beating). Wale comes from an Old English word meaning ridge, as in The knight rode over the ridge. Later it came to mean ridge made on flesh by a lash. In the 13th century the wooden platform made to hold mounted guns was called the gonne walle (gunwale). In the 16th century the word wale came to be used in the manufacture of textiles to describe the ridges in a fabric like corduroy. Weal, in the sense of a raised mark on skin is documented from 1821 as an alteration of wale. (NOTE: The word weal has other meanings which are worthy of a post to themselves.) wheal, a mark made on the skin by a whip is documented from 1808. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, wheal is probably an alteration of wale, possibly by confusion with weal welt, and obsolete wheal pimple, pustule (1440), from O.E. verb hwelian to form pus, bring to a head. As pointed out by our reader, in modern medical use a wheal is a flat, usually circular, hard elevation of the skin, especially that which is characteristic of urticaria. According to the OED, the wheal is so called because it resembles the wheal raised on the skin by a blow. The earliest example in the OED of the verb to whale in the sense of beating severely is documented from 1790: 1790 Grose, Provincial Glossary: whale, to beat with a horsewhip or pliant stick. 1801 G. Hanger, Life: Whaleing [sic] a gentleman is but a vulgar revenge. 1884 Mark Twain, Huckleberry Finn: He used to always whale me when he was sober and could get his hands on me. The OED also has an entry for wale as a verb meaning to mark (the flesh) with wales or weals and gives this example from 1634: O my blessed Saviour, was it not enough that thy sacred body was stripped of thy garments, and waled with bloudy stripes? A dark side to this etymological foray is that the evolution of these words took place in times when whipping was such a regular event that most people had seen what it does to a persons back. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:30 Religious Terms You Should Know50 Diminutive Suffixes (and a Cute Little Prefix)Educational vs. Educative

Clean Development Mechanism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Clean Development Mechanism - Essay Example While this protocol enforced many restrictions upon the developing countries, it failed to enforce same tight measures upon the developed world. In fact developed world are the major culprits as far as the environmental problems are concerned. CDM was the flexibility mechanisms aimed to reduce the commitments of developing countries as far as emission reduction is concerned. This paper briefly analyses the CDM mechanism. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), defined in Article 12 of the Protocol, allows a country with an emission-reduction or emission-limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to implement an emission-reduction project in developing countries†. Such projects can earn saleable certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one tone of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting Kyoto targets (Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), n. d). Flexibility mechanisms were introduced in the Kyoto Protocol by United States in order to safeguard their interests. Even though, the developing countries are still not happy with the Kyoto Protocol, they agreed to implement it. Perhaps United States is the greatest contributor to the environmental problems because of the heavy industrialization and automobile usages in America. At the same time they are trying to restrict the green house gas emission from the developing world without taking serious steps in reducing their own greenhouse gas emissions. America is trying to educate the world that emission cut costs in developing world are less compared to that in the developed world and hence they are trying to enforce more restrictions upon the developing world. At the same time, if the developing world enforces too many restrictions upon greenhouse gas emission, their economic growth would be seriously affected. In other words, the developing world is suspecting the sincerity of Am erica is pressing the developing world to reduce greenhouse gas emission. Many people believe that

Britain's privatized railway system Literature review

Britain's privatized railway system - Literature review Example This freed up the Secretary of State to give the relevant board directions concerning the disposal of its holdings. This Act was necessary because the government at all times had to act by the rules that were established by various Acts covering transport and railways, which would have stopped the board from disposing of the assets. Following the Secretary of state’s actions, he directed for the formation of Rail-track PLC, which, in turn, paved the way for 1993’s Railways Act. The British Railways Board’s operations were subsequently sold off. At the time, the process was riddled with controversy and some of the results have lent credence to the criticism that came its way. The manner of the privatization also led to widespread criticism from over twenty companies involved, especially for its complexity. Following the Swedish example that seemed apparently successful, the BEU issued directive 91/440, wishing to enable new rail operators to access the market (Jupe & Crompton, 2006: p1038). EU member states were required to separate infrastructure and railway management operations from transport services with account separation termed, as compulsory to all industries that were formally owned by the state with while separation with institutions being optional. The EU hoped that track operators would levy a transparent fee that would allow operators to run networked trains under open access. British Rail was privatized between 1994 and 1997 with Rail-track given ownership of infrastructure and track in April of 1994. Following this, there was franchising of passenger operations to operators in the private sector with outright sale of freight services. BRB Ltd. got the remaining British rail obligations. When John Major replaced Margaret Thatcher as the Conservative party leader in late 1 990 the privatization of the British Rail begun to pick up steam. The government under Thatcher had sold off almost all industries that were formally owned by the state with the exception of British Rail. Even though, Cecil Parkinson, the previous Secretary for Transport had led advocacy for a form of semi-private or private ownership of the British rail network, Thatcher had deemed it too much (Jupe & Crompton, 2006; p1039). In the 1992 elections, the Conservative manifesto included a privatization commitment for the British rail network, although the specifics were not set out clearly. Triumphing over opinion polls, the Conservatives won the 1992 elections and had to, consequently, come up with a plan to privatize British Rail prior to the publishing of the Railways Bill the following year (Haywood, 2007: p200). British Rail’s management led a strong advocacy campaign for the privatization of British Rail under a single entity with John Redwood, a Cabinet Minister, arguing for the regional companies that were in charge of trains and track, although the Prime Minister did not back this at the time. Consequently, following pressure from a think tank fronted by the Adam Smith Institute, the treasury advocated for seven franchises for passenger railways, which later expanded to 25, as a means of revenue maximization. The treasury prevailed in this instance. In addition, privatization of British Rail became a reality. In 1997, the Labor government took over after almost all privatization had been carried out and failed to act, on its earlier promise, to return to the public sector the railway system (Haywood, 2007: p200). It, instead, elected to leave the structure as it was and even oversaw the completion of

The novel Of Mice and Men and the characters Crook, Candy and Curlys wife Essay Example for Free

The novel Of Mice and Men and the characters Crook, Candy and Curlys wife Essay Discuss the theme of loneliness in the novel Of Mice and Men by looking at the characters Crook, Candy and Curlys wife Loneliness plays an integral role in the novel and it is this theme, which effectively leads to the inevitable ending. Each of the characters mentioned in the essay title re-enacts different aspects of the definition loneliness. Hence I will explore the way in which Steinbeck epitomises loneliness, using each of these characters. Crooks is depicted as a loner due to his supposed unfortunate predicament of being born a nigger. Despite this term being derogatory, it highlights the immediately low social stratum that black people occupied in a period where racism and segregation was prominent. The boss gives him hell when hes mad Just because is black, he is at the receiving end of the boss; wrath, a white man. Crooks is described by Candy as a nice fella. The reader is left to assume that the only Black character mentioned in the story is lonely, as the reader is almost oblivious of his presence. It is but for the initial reference to him and the re-emergence of his character in the middle section of the book that the reader is forced to remember. The idea of loneliness with reference to Crooks character has two explanations. The primary reason for his loneliness is Cause [Hes] black. Crooks is annihilated due to his race which in the period when the book was written, segregation was rampant. The reader learns exactly what Crooks feels about his treatment: I aint wanted in the bunkhouse Cause Im black I cant play [cards] because Im black. They say I stink. This outburst signifies the loneliness he feels. He is ostracised due to his race and is not allowed to participate in any activities. Unlike the other characters that experience loneliness, the reader feels that his isolation is the most extreme, as he is black, which automatically relegates him to a low class. The second explanatory for his loneliness is his disability, which evokes a form of loneliness. Crooks has a crooked back. And so presumably, he does have not much use due to his inability to provide a service. Slim suggest that inability to provide a service notes your uselessness: I wish somebodyd shoot me if I get old and cripple. Crooks falls into both these categories. As well as being old, he is cripple, therefore shooting him is of no great loss. Crooks annihilation due to his race and forced into a low social stratum he has an equal status as an animal. This is well represented in c chapter four, where the reader learns that Crooks has his bunk in the harness, and what worsens the situation is the fact that his actual bunk is made from straw, which is what forms many animals beds. The reader also learns that he has a manure pile in his room. Several references are made to his medication, where he owned a range of medicine bottles, both for himself and for the horses. The fact that he uses medication indicates that he often feels pain: Now and then he poured a few drops of the liniment into his pink-palmed hand He flexed his muscles against his back and shivered. Crooks is constantly applying liniment to his back, which may be to ease the pain he feels. He is often in pain and so may not be able to cope with strenuous activities, thus his uselessness and inevitable isolation. The descriptions used with reference to Crooks appearance, may symbolise the suppression he feels from the world. The fact that his body was bent over to the left by his crooked spine forces the reader to relate this to his bad treatment in life. It may suggest that he has had a rough life and the reader assumes that his injury epitomises the hardship and rejection felt, thus his sub-human status. Steinbeck describes Crooks as having deep black wrinkles. The fact that they are deep is also indicative of the depth of strain that he has endured in life, yet we are given no impetus that he has been badly treated at the ranch. Lennie in some ways breaks Crooks loneliness, when he intrudes in his room. Although he scowled in response to Lennies intrusion the reader feels that his presence is welcomed thus Crooks says, It was difficult for Crooks to conceal his pleasure with anger. Crooks becomes more comfortable with the company and the reader delves into his past as he confides with Lennie. The reader pities Crooks attributed to the fact that he views himself as just a nigger talking a busted-black nigger. Crooks indeed pities himself and his predicament. He is lonely as his only true company is himself. Hence, when Lenny tells how he has George, Crooks is in some ways envious of their relationship thus forcing Lennie to consider a pessimistic situation: You got GeorgeSpose you couldnt go into the bunk-house and play rummy cause you was black Spose you had to sit out here an read booksBooks aint no good. A guy needs somebody to be near him A guy goes nuts if he aint got nobody Dont make no difference who the guy is long as hes with you a guy gets lonely, an he gets sick The fact that Crooks aint got nobody generalises his reasons for his loneliness. This saddens the reader, as up till now he has been forced to keep this too himself, but his treatment makes him sick. He pours out his inner feelings and the reader appreciates that reading, his most frequent form of communication, is an escapism, but he concludes books aint no good. Lennie relishes in the fact that he and George will own some land of their own, however Crooks is rather pessimistic. Having seen many aim for a better life and fail, he concludes Nobody gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. The reader considers Crooks extreme pessimism and concludes that due to his constant disappointment and failure, such improvements are but dreams and only exists in their head. However, a glimpse of faith is evident in Crooks character and maybe a realised dream himself, when almost convinced by Lennies revelation to live on the fatta the lan he responds: If you guys would want a hand to work for nothingwhy Id come an lend a hand This outburst indicates his eagerness and yet hope for some sort of recognition in life. The fact that this dream seems achievable gives him a glimmer of hope. For a short while at least his cocoon of isolation seems to be disintegrating: It was difficult for Crooks to conceal his pleasure with anger This narrative indicates that he is content, as he finally has human company, which he can interact with. The fact that Guys dont come into a coloured mans room very much indicates that despite the solemnity he has become accustomed to, company is always welcome, after all A guy goes nuts if he aint got nobody The partial hope of escaping from his sombreness is probably what gives him enough courage to say to Curleys wife on her intrusion into his room, Maybe you better go to your own house. Despite it being his own space, Crooks essentially relinquishes his non challenging role as a negro and dares to question a white persons authority. Yes, he can dream, but Curleys wife throws reality back in his face when she relegates him back to the terrible protective dignity of a negro. Crooks accepts that he will never be a white persons counterpart and concludes: You guys comin in an settin made me forget. What she says is true. Crooks forgot his place as a Nigger and so had reduced himself to nothingnothing to arouse either like or dislike. Crooks is lonely and no one in the story truly understands his predicament. However the reader is forced to conclude, that his annihilation is what retains the fact that he is proud [and] aloof. When he was on the verge of putting an end to his loneliness, thus confronting Curley wife, he realised that [for] a coloured man to have some rights, even if he dont like em., he has to settle for an inferior position in society or face humiliation. Through Crooks loneliness, he retains his pride. In considering Candys loneliness, the reader automatically compares him to that of Crooks. Candys character in the play symbolises the fate of those who are old and disabled. He has the most menial job on the ranch as the swamper and it is primarily because of his disability why he has turned into a self-pitying worker. Although he is lonely, his dog provides him with some sort of comfort. Despite his dog being weak, because [hes] so used to him and had him from a pup he feels some sort of attachment to the dog. The reader is forced to deduce that maybe the dog reflects Candys temperament. Both are old, walk with a limp and could receive the same fate of being killed due to their uselessness. Steinbeck describes the dog as: drag footed sheep dog[with] blind old eyes. The dog struggled lamely to the side This description shows the reader, the bad condition of the dog. The reader understands that as well as not walking properly, the dog is blind and its whole existence is a struggle. Carlson describes the dogs condition as: Got no teeth Hes all stiff with rheumatism. He aint no good to you Candy. Candy and his dog, and Crooks suffer a similar fate, as all of them are retired and so are of no use, as they can not carry out service jobs. Candy is attached to the dog. The fact that the dog is a reflection of himself, initially a hard worker, but now cripple to due his hard work killing it would mean he deserves to be killed also, as both have passed their usefulness. When Candy is forced to put the dog down, through Steinbecks descriptions, the reader realises how much the dog actually means to him: he subdued the hand with the other and held it down he rolled over and faced the wall and lay silent This is rather a sombre description. It underlines the fact that by killing the dog, his only long-term companion, means a part of him would be missing. Hence when he shares in Lennies and Georges dream he somehow feels rejuvenated. Candy shows interest in their dream as by being a part of it, it entitles him to have a future outside of the ranch and some human company. He would no longer have to be subservient to anybody, thus he would not receive the same fate as those who are in the same predicament as himself. It is interesting to note that he finds out about their dream while he would normally be alone, but for Lennies and Georges presence. Many people who are lonely thrive on gossip, as this is a means of escaping their own dismal life and delving into the life of someone elses, often more interesting than their own. This is so for Candy who is described as [warming] to his gossip. He speaks about Curley and even refers to his wife as a tart, yet the reader observes how inferior he actually is, when Curleys wife calls him a lousy ol sheep. Candy does tell Curleys wife what he thinks of her, but he realises that -Nobody d listen to us. In society, he is insignificant and thus his loneliness. Curleys wife experiences a unique form of loneliness. From an early stage in the book, the reader regards Curleys wife as that of a sex symbol. Throughout the story she is never named, but the reader only considers her as a tart, purty and a looloo. Glove fulla vaseline This refers to Curley who actually degrades his wife openly, by the display of this sexual connotation. Due to this derogatory act, it is no surprise to the reader that she is lonely. She is thought of as an object, not a person. She is not appreciated for her talent although according to her [she] could of went with shows because of it. While Curley is out enjoying himself she is left talking to a bunch of bindle stiffs. The reader knows she is lonely, through her constant search for attention. Through exploiting her sexuality does she try to conceal her loneliness hence, she flirts with Slim and constantly wanders around the men the ranch. It is interesting to note, that her only defence to Crooks when he asks her to come out of his room, is to threaten him with rape charges. The fact that she is lonely, she knows nothing else but to exploit her sexuality again. She is very shallow Curleys wife actually admits I get lonely I cant talk to nobody but Curley. This is why she is constantly seeking attention. When Lennie says he is not supposed to talk to her she questions angrily Whats the matter with me?. Again she uses this opportunity to tell Lennie about the dreams that she had. She becomes so comfortable speaking with Lennie that it is this which leads to her death. She is so willing to poor out her heart, her disappointment and the fact that she is lonely, that Lennie gets attached. It is her sexuality which causes her death. She confides in Lennie admitting that [she] don like Curley. So when Lennie starts to stroke her hair she does not mind initially, but this flirtatious act is what leads to her death. Lennie kills her involuntarily; yet this fate was inevitable. Each of these characters experienced their own forms of loneliness. It is quite interesting to note that each of the characters all end up in the same room, having been left out of the other activities which the men are indulging in: Crooks because he is black, old and cripple, Candy because he is old and disabled and Curleys wife as she is thought of as a sex object, not a person. Although she asks herself, An what am I doin? Staindin here a nigger an a lousy ol sheep. Yet she answers her own question when she says, They left all the weak ones here. She actually does belong there as all characters are lonely in some way or another and have been excluded from the activities of the ranch. Is it not fair that they comfort each other? The reader understands that this is not possible, as they are not compatible with each other due to their different predicaments.