Saturday, October 12, 2019
Emotional Poverty Within Material Wealth in Romeo and Juliet Essay
Shakespeare centers Romeo and Juliet on the tension of opposing forces, including the conspicuous dichotomies of life and death, peace and war, and young and old. But Shakespeare also explores the underlying theme of emotional poverty within material wealth. Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã The affluence of the Capulets is apparent in the first act, when the stage is continually adomed, between scenes, for the family's banquet. First, before Juliet's initial appearance in 1.3, long crimson tapestries are unfurled from the gallery to coverthe cracked marble ofthe facade, and the bench is given an ornate cushion and the fountain a decorative cover. Before 1.4, a festive garland is strung acrossthe gallery, and additional benches are carried onstage. Finally, before the masque begins in 1.5, candelabra with burning candles are brought in to flank the gallery.Ã Romeo is seen brooding alone on the balcony. His first sighting of Juliet is then strikingly staged. All the revelers below, except Juliet, suddenly freeze in their motions, ghostly white masks held up to conceal their faces, and the stage darkens except for spotlights upon Romeo and Juliet. The grandeur of the Capulet home is dimmed into relative non-existence as Romeo and Juliet's sudden love springs to life. Shakespeare's stopped-motion technique is employed once more during the masque, again to dramatic effect. After Tybalt's rage against Romeo's intrusion is quelled--by a slap trom Capulet--the stage is again darkened, and the partygoers are once more frozen. their faces concealed behind the masks. Romeo and Juliet speak with each other for the first time, gracefully dancing in an emotionally charred circle at centerstage, Romeo attired in green velvet and Juliet in a splen... ... David Kortemeier depicts his earnest but ineffectual Friar Lawrence with dry humor and real fondness for Romeo. Shakespeare briskly paces the concluding scenes. He emphasizes the swiftness of events and multiplying misfortunes rather than lingering on moments as he had done with earlier sequences. This approach works welI in evoking the rapidity of the tragedy, but it deprives the play of some of its power. For example, Romeo's dying kiss with Juliet is followed immediately, almost comically, by the entrance of the Friar, well before the tragic nature of the double-suicide has had a chance to be fully absorbed. Nevertheless this production is effective drama, due especially to directorial prowess and a slew of rich supporting perfommances. Works Cited: Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Eds. Maynard Mack and Robert Bayton. Portsmouth: Heinemann, 1981.
Friday, October 11, 2019
The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 18
Elena came back to the real world slowly, fighting it all the way. She sank her nails into the leather of Damon's jacket, found herself wondering briefly if removing it would help, and then her mood was shattered again by that sound ââ¬â a sharp, imperative knock. Damon raised his head and snarled. We are a pair of wolves, aren't we? Elena thought. Fighting nail and tooth. But, another part of her mind supplied, that isn't stopping the knocking. He warned those girlsâ⬠¦. Those girls! Bonnie and Meredith! And he'd said not to interrupt unless the house was on fire! But, the doctor ââ¬â oh, God, something's happened to that poor, wretched woman! She's dying! Damon was still snarling, a trace of blood on his lips. It was only a trace, because her second wound had really been healed just as thoroughly as the first, the one across her cheekbone. Elena had no idea how long it had been since she had pulled Damon to her to kiss this cut. But now, with her blood in his veins and his pleasure interrupted, he was like an untamed black panther in her arms. She didn't know whether she could stop him or even slow him down without using raw Power on him. ââ¬Å"Damon!â⬠she said aloud. ââ¬Å"Out there ââ¬â those are our friends. Remember? Bonnie and Meredith and the healer.â⬠ââ¬Å"Meredith,â⬠Damon said, and again his lips peeled back, exposing terrifyingly long canines. He still wasn't in reality. If he saw Meredith now, he wouldn't be frightened, Elena thought ââ¬â and, oh yes, she knew how her logical, thoughtful friend made Damon uneasy. They saw the world through such different eyes. She irked him like a pebble in his shoe. But right now he might deal with that unease in a way that would leave Meredith a savaged corpse. ââ¬Å"Let me go see,â⬠she said, as the knock came again ââ¬â couldn't they stop that? Didn't she have enough to deal with? Damon's arms merely tightened around her. She felt a flash of heat, because she knew that, even as he restrained her, he was holding back so much of his strength. He didn't want to crush her, as he could if he used a tenth of the power in his hard muscles alone. The wave of feeling that washed over her made her shut her eyes briefly, helplessly, but she knew she had to be the voice of sanity here. ââ¬Å"Damon! They could be warning us ââ¬â or Ulma may have died.â⬠Death got through to him. His eyes were slits, the bloodred light from the kitchen shutters throwing bars of scarlet and black across his face, making him look more handsome ââ¬â and more demonic ââ¬â than ever. ââ¬Å"You'll stay here.â⬠Damon said it flatly, with no idea of being a ââ¬Å"masterâ⬠or a ââ¬Å"gentleman.â⬠He was a wild beast protecting his mate, the only creature in the world that wasn't competition or food. There was no arguing with him, not in this state. Elena would stay here. Damon would go to do whatever needed to be done. And Elena would stay for as long as he thought necessary. Elena truly didn't know whose thoughts these last were. She and Damon were still trying to untangle their emotions. She decided to watch him and only if he really got out of controlâ⬠¦ You don't want to see me out of control. Feeling him snap from raw animal instinct to icy, perfect mental dominance was even scarier than the animal alone. She didn't know whether Damon was the sanest person she had ever met or just the one best able to cover up his wildness. She held her torn blouse together and watched as he moved with effortless grace to the door and then, suddenly, violently, wrenched it almost off its hinges. No one fell; no one had been listening in on their private conversation. But Meredith stood, restraining Bonnie with one hand, and with the other hand raised, ready to knock again. ââ¬Å"Yes?â⬠Damon said in glacial tones. ââ¬Å"I thought I told you ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"You did, and there is,â⬠Meredith said, interrupting this Damon in an unusual attempt to commit suicide. ââ¬Å"There is what?â⬠Damon snarled. ââ¬Å"There's a mob outside threatening to burn the whole building down. I don't know if they're upset about Drohzne, or about us taking Ulma, but they're enraged about something, and they've got torches. I didn't want to interrupt Elena's ââ¬â treatment ââ¬â but Dr. Meggar says they won't listen to him. He's a human.â⬠ââ¬Å"He used to be a slave,â⬠Bonnie added, wresting free of the chokehold that Meredith had on her. She looked up at Damon with streaming brown eyes, hands outstretched. ââ¬Å"Only you can save us,â⬠she said, translating the message of her gaze aloud ââ¬â which meant that things were really serious. ââ¬Å"All right, all right. I'll go take care of them. You take care of Elena.â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course, but ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"No.â⬠Damon had either gone reckless with the blood ââ¬â and the memories that were still keeping Elena from forming a coherent sentence ââ¬â or he had somehow overcome all his fear of Meredith. He put a hand on each of her shoulders. He was only one and a half or two inches taller than she was, so he had no trouble holding her eyes. ââ¬Å"You, personally, take care of Elena. Tragedies happen here every minute of the day: unforeseeable, horrible, deadly tragedies. I do not want one happening to Elena.â⬠Meredith looked at him for a long moment, and for once didn't consult Elena with her eyes before answering a question involving her. She simply said, ââ¬Å"I'll protect her,â⬠in a low voice that nevertheless carried. From her stance, from her tone, one could almost hear the unspoken addition, ââ¬Å"with my lifeâ⬠ââ¬â and it didn't even seem melodramatic. Damon let go of her, strode out the door, and without a backward glance disappeared from Elena's sight. But his mental voice was crystalline in her mind: You'll be safe if there is any way to save you. I swear it. If there was any way to save her. Wonderful. Elena tried to kickstart her brain. Meredith and Bonnie were both staring at her. Elena took a deep breath, automatically sucked for a moment back into the old days, when a girl fresh from a hot date could expect a long and serious debriefing. But all Bonnie said was, ââ¬Å"Your face ââ¬â it looks much better now!â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠Elena said, using the two ends of her blouse to tie a makeshift top around her. ââ¬Å"My leg's the problem. We didn't ââ¬â didn't finish it yet.â⬠Bonnie opened her mouth, but closed it determinedly, which from Bonnie was a display of heroics similar to Meredith's promise to Damon. When she opened it again it was to say, ââ¬Å"Take my scarf and tie it around your leg. We can fold it sideways and then tie a bow over the side that got hurt. That'll keep pressure on it.â⬠Meredith said, ââ¬Å"I think Dr. Meggar has finished with Ulma. Maybe he can see you.â⬠In the other room, the doctor was once again washing his hands, using a large pump to get more water into the basin. There were deeply red-stained cloths in a pile and a smell that Elena was grateful the doctor had camouflaged with herbs. Also in a large, comfortable-looking chair there sat a woman whom Elena did not recognize. Suffering and terror could change a person, Elena knew, but she could never have realized how much ââ¬â nor how much relief and freedom from pain could change a face. She had brought with her a woman who huddled until she was almost child-size in Elena's mind, and whose thin, ravaged face, twisted with agony and unrelenting dread, had seemed almost a sort of abstract drawing of a goblin hag. Her skin had been sickly gray in color, her thin hair had scarcely seemed enough to cover her head, and yet it had hung down in strands like seaweed. Everything about her screamed out that she was a slave, from the iron bands around her wrists, to her nakedness and scarred, bloody body, to her bare and rusty feet. Elena could not even have told you the color of the woman's eyes, for they had seemed as gray as the rest of her. Now Elena was confronted by a woman who was perhaps in her early-to mid-thirties. She had a lean, attractive, somehow aristocratic face, with a strong, patrician nose, dark, keen-looking eyes, and beautiful eyebrows like the wings of a flying bird. She was relaxing in the armchair, with her feet up on an ottoman, slowly brushing her hair, which was dark with occasional streaks of gray that lent an air of dignity to the simple deep blue housecoat she was wearing. Her face had wrinkles that lent it character, but overall one sensed a sort of yearning tenderness about her, perhaps because of the slight bulge in her abdomen, which she now gently laid a hand on. When she did this her face bloomed with color and her whole aspect glowed. For an instant Elena thought this must be the doctor's wife or housekeeper and she had a temptation to ask whether Ulma, the poor wreck of a slave, had died. Then she saw what one cuff of the deep blue housecoat could not quite conceal: a glimpse of an iron bracelet. This lean dark aristocratic woman was Ulma. The doctor had worked a miracle. A healer, he had called himself. It was obvious that, like Damon, he could heal wounds. No one who had been whipped as Ulma had could have come round to this state without some powerful magic. Trying to simply stitch up the bloody mess that Elena had brought in had obviously been impossible, and so Dr. Meggar had healed her. Elena had never experienced a situation like this, so she fell back upon the good manners that had been bred into her as a Virginian. ââ¬Å"It's nice to meet you, ma'am. I'm Elena,â⬠she said, and held out her hand. The brush fell onto the chair. The woman reached out with both hands to take Elena's into hers. Those keen dark eyes seemed to devour Elena's face. ââ¬Å"You're the one,â⬠she said, and then, swinging her slippered feet off the ottoman, she went down on her knees. ââ¬Å"Oh, no, ma'am! Please! I'm sure the doctor told you to rest. It's best to sit quietly now.â⬠ââ¬Å"But you are the one.â⬠For some reason, the woman seemed to need confirmation. And Elena was willing to do anything to pacify her. ââ¬Å"I'm the one,â⬠Elena said. ââ¬Å"And now I think you should sit down again.â⬠Obedience was immediate, and yet there was a sort of joyful light about everything Ulma did. Elena understood it after only a few hours of slavery. Obeying when one had a choice was entirely different from obeying because disobedience could mean death. But even as Ulma sat, she held out her arms. ââ¬Å"Look at me! Dear seraph, goddess, Guardian ââ¬â whatever you are: look at me! After three years of living as a beast I have become human again ââ¬â because of you! You came like an angel of lightning and stood between me and the lash.â⬠Ulma began to weep, but they seemed to be tears of joy. Her eyes searched Elena's face, lingering on the scarred cheekbone. ââ¬Å"But you're no Guardian; they have magicks that protect them and they never interfere. For three years, they never interfered. I saw all my friends, my fellow slaves, fall to his whip and his rage.â⬠She shook her head, as if physically unable to say Drohzne's name. ââ¬Å"I'm so sorry ââ¬â so sorryâ⬠¦.â⬠Elena was fumbling. She glanced back and saw that Bonnie and Meredith were similarly stricken. ââ¬Å"It doesn't matter. I heard your mate killed him on the street.â⬠ââ¬Å"I told her that,â⬠Lakshmi said proudly. She had entered the room without anyone noticing her. ââ¬Å"My mate?â⬠Elena faltered. ââ¬Å"Well, he's not my ââ¬â I mean, he and I ââ¬â we ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"He's our master,â⬠Meredith said bluntly, from behind Elena. Ulma was still looking at Elena with her heart in her eyes. ââ¬Å"Every day, I will pray for your soul to ascend from here.â⬠Elena was startled. ââ¬Å"Souls can ascend from here?â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course. Repentance and good deeds may accomplish it, and the prayers of others are always taken into consideration, I think.â⬠You sure don't talk like a slave, Elena mused. She tried to think of a way to put it delicately, but she was confused and her leg hurt and her emotions were in turmoil. ââ¬Å"You don't sound like ââ¬â well, like what I'd expect from a slave,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Or am I just being an idiot?â⬠She could see the tears form in Ulma's eyes. ââ¬Å"Oh, God! Please, forget I asked. Please ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"No! There is no one I would rather tell. If you wish to hear how I came to this degraded state.â⬠Ulma waited, watching Elena ââ¬â it was clear that Elena's least wish was to Ulma, a command. Elena looked at Meredith and Bonnie. She couldn't hear any more noises of yelling outside on the street and the building certainly didn't seem to be on fire. Fortunately, at that moment, Dr. Meggar wandered in again. ââ¬Å"Everybody getting acquainted?â⬠he asked, his eyebrows working in opposition now; one up, one down. He had the remnants of a bottle of Black Magic in his hand. ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠Elena said, ââ¬Å"but I was just wondering if we should be trying to evacuate or anything. Apparently there was a mob ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Elena's mate is going to give them something to think about,â⬠Lakshmi said with relish. ââ¬Å"They've all gone to the Meeting Place to resolve the stuff about Drohzne's property. I bet he'll bash a few heads in and be back in no time,â⬠she added cheerfully, leaving no doubt as to he was. ââ¬Å"Wish I was a boy so I could see it.â⬠ââ¬Å"You were braver than the boys; you were the one who led us here,â⬠Elena told her. Then she consulted Meredith and Bonnie with her eyes. It sounded as if the commotion had moved on elsewhere, and Damon was a master at getting himself out of commotions. He might alsoâ⬠¦need to fight, to rid himself of excess energy from Elena's blood. A commotion might actually be good for him, Elena thought. She looked at Dr. Meggar. ââ¬Å"Will my ââ¬â will our master be all right, do you think?â⬠Dr. Meggar's eyebrows went up and down. ââ¬Å"He'll probably have to pay Old Drohzne's relatives a blood price, but it shouldn't be too high. Then he can do what he likes with the old bastard's property,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"I'd say the safest place for you right now is here, away from the Meeting Place.â⬠He went on to enforce that opinion by pouring them all glasses ââ¬â liqueur glasses, Elena noted ââ¬â of Black Magic wine. ââ¬Å"Good for the nerves,â⬠he said and took a sip. Ulma smiled her beautiful, heartwarming smile at him, as he took the tray around. ââ¬Å"Thank you ââ¬â and thank you ââ¬â and thank you,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"I won't bore you with my story ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"No, tell us; tell us, please!â⬠Now that there was no immediate danger to her friends or to Damon, Elena was eager to hear the tale. Everyone else was nodding. Ulma flushed a little, but began sedately, ââ¬Å"I was born in the reign of Kelemen II,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"I'm sure that means nothing to our visitors but much to those who knew him and his ââ¬â indulgences. I studied under my mother, who became a very popular designer of fashions in fabrics. My father was a designer of jewelry almost as famous as she was. They had an estate on the outskirts of the city and could afford a house as fine as many of their wealthiest customers ââ¬â though they were careful not to show the true extent of their wealth. I was the young Lady Ulma then, not Ulma the hag. My parents did their best to keep me out of sight, for my own safety. Butâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Ulma ââ¬â Lady Ulma, Elena thought, stopped and took a deep sip of her wine. Her eyes had changed; she was seeing the past, and trying not to upset her listeners. But just as Elena was about to ask her to stop, at least until she felt better, she continued. ââ¬Å"But despite all their careâ⬠¦someoneâ⬠¦saw me anyway and demanded my hand in marriage. Not Drohzne, he was just a furrier from the Outlands, and I never saw him until three years ago. This was a lord, a General, a demon with a terrible reputation ââ¬â and my father refused his demand. They came on us in the night. I was fourteen when it happened. And that is how I became a slave.â⬠Elena found that she was feeling emotional pain directly from Lady Ulma's mind. Oh, my God, I've done it again, she thought, hurriedly trying to tune down her psychic senses. ââ¬Å"Please, you don't need to tell us this. Maybe another timeâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"I would like to tell you ââ¬â you ââ¬â so you will know what you have done. And I would prefer to say it only once. But if you do not wish to hear it ââ¬â ââ¬Å" Politeness was warring with politeness here. ââ¬Å"No, no, if you want ââ¬â go ahead. I ââ¬â I just want you to know how sorry I am.â⬠Elena glanced at the doctor, who was patiently waiting by the table for her with the brown bottle in his hands. ââ¬Å"And if you don't mind, I'd like to get my legâ⬠¦healed?â⬠She was aware that she'd said the last word doubtfully, wondering how any one being could have the power to heal Ulma like this. She was not surprised when he shook his head. ââ¬Å"Or stitched up, rather, while you talk, if you don't mind,â⬠she said. It took several minutes to overcome Lady Ulma's shock and distress that she had left her savior waiting, but at last Elena was on the table and the doctor was encouraging her to drink from the bottle, which smelled like cherry cough syrup. Oh, well, she might as well try the Dark Dimension version of anesthetic ââ¬â especially since the stitching was bound to hurt, Elena thought. She took a sip from the bottle and felt the room reel around her. She waved away the offer of a second sip. Dr. Meggar undid Bonnie's ruined scarf, and then began to cut off her blood-soaked jeans leg above the knee. ââ¬Å"Well ââ¬â you are so good to listen,â⬠Lady Ulma said. ââ¬Å"But I knew you were good already. I will spare us both the painful details of my slavery. Perhaps it's enough to say that I was passed from one master to another over the years, always a slave, always going down. At last, as a joke, someone said, ââ¬ËGive her to Old Drohzne. He'll squeeze the last use out of her if anyone can.'â⬠ââ¬Å"God!â⬠Elena said, and hoped that everyone would attribute it to the story and not to the bite of the cleansing solution the doctor was swabbing over her swollen flesh. Damon was so much better at this, she thought. I didn't even realize how lucky I was before. Elena tried not to wince as the doctor began to use his needle, but her grip on Meredith's hand tightened until Elena was afraid she was breaking bones. She tried to ease the grip, but Meredith squeezed back hard. Her long, smooth hand was almost like a boy's, but softer. Elena was glad to be able to squeeze as hard as she liked. ââ¬Å"My strength has been giving out on me lately,â⬠Lady Ulma said softly. ââ¬Å"I thought it was thatâ⬠ââ¬â here she used a particularly crude expression for her owner ââ¬â ââ¬Å"that was leading me to death. Then I realized the truth.â⬠All at once radiance changed her face, so much that Elena could see what she must have looked like when she was in her teens and so beautiful that a demon would demand her as a wife. ââ¬Å"I knew that new life stirred within me ââ¬â and I knew that Drohzne would kill it if he had the chance ââ¬â ââ¬Å" She didn't seem to recognize the expressions of astonishment and horror on the three girl's faces. Elena, however, had the feeling that she was groping through a nightmare, on the edge of a black crevasse, and that she would have to keep groping in the dark, around treacherous, unseen fissures in the ice in the Dark Dimension until she reached Stefan and got him free of this place. This casual reference to abomination wasn't the first of her steps around a crevasse, but it was the first she had recognized and counted. ââ¬Å"You young women are very new here,â⬠Lady Ulma said, as the silence stretched and stretched. ââ¬Å"I did not mean to say anything out of placeâ⬠¦.â⬠ââ¬Å"We're slaves here,â⬠Meredith replied, picking up a length of rope. ââ¬Å"I think the more we learn the better.â⬠ââ¬Å"Your master ââ¬â I've never seen anyone so quick to fight Old Drohzne before. Many people clucked their tongues, but that was all most dared to do. But your master ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"We call him Damon,â⬠Bonnie put in pointedly. It went right over Lady Ulma's head. ââ¬Å"Master Damon ââ¬â do you think he might keep me? After he pays the blood price to ââ¬â to Drohzne's relatives, he will get first pick of all Drohzne's property. I am one of the few slaves he has not killed.â⬠The hope in the woman's face was almost too painful for Elena to look at. It was only then that she consciously realized how long it had been since she'd seen Damon. How long should Damon's business be taking? She looked at Meredith anxiously. Meredith understood exactly what the look meant. She shook her head helplessly. Even if they had Lakshmi take them to the Meeting Place, what could they do? Elena bit back a wince of pain and smiled at Lady Ulma. ââ¬Å"Why don't you tell us about when you were a girl?â⬠she said.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
A Report on Kingfisher Airlines Essay
Overview of Airlines industry in India The aviation industry in India is one of those sectors that saw a constant pace of growth among the other industries in the world over the past many years. The open sky policy of the government has helped a lot of overseas players entering the aviation market in India. From then, it has only been growing in terms of players and the number of aircrafts. At present, private airlines account for around 75% portion of the domestic aviation market. The 9th largest aviation market in the world is India. Taking the help of the statistics from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, approximately 29.8 million passengers traveled to/from India in 2008, showing a surge of 30% from 2007. The prediction stated that international passengers will touch 50 million by 2015. More opportunities in the aviation industry in India are likely to make way for about 69 foreign airlines from 49 countries. Growth of aviation industry in India The Indian Civil Aviation market grew at a CAGR of 18%, being valued round US$ 5.6 billion in 2008. Further statistics revealed that the air traffic in August 2009 was a double digit figure. The domestic airliners flew 3.67 million passengers in August 2009, as against 2.92 million in the corresponding period of 2007, up by 26%. The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) has estimated that the domestic traffic will go up by 25% to 30% till 2010 along with a surge in the international traffic by 15%. There would be more than 100 million passengers by 2010. Then again by 2020, Indian airports will in all probability handle over 100 million passengers every year. The investment plans to the tune of US$ 9 billion has been made by the Aviation Ministry for modernizing the existing airports by 2010. In terms of domestic passengersââ¬â¢ volume, US have always been the leader with followers in the league like China, Japan and India. The number of domestic flights went up by 69% from 2005 to 2008, with the domestic aviation sector growing at 9-10%. Vision ââ¬Å"The Kingfisher Airlines family will consistently deliver a safe, value-based and enjoyable travel experience to all our guests.â⬠Mission à ââ¬Å"Kingfisher Airlines will have ââ¬ËFly the Good Timesââ¬â¢ approach and this will reflect in the experience we will offer to passengers Introduction Kingfisher Airlines Limited is an airline group based in India Its head office is in Andheri (East), Mumbai and Registered Office in UB City, Bangalore. Kingfisher Airlines, through its parent company United Breweries Group, has a 50% stake in low-cost carrier Kingfisher Red. The airline has been facing financial issues for many years. Until December 2011, Kingfisher Airlines had the second largest share in Indiaââ¬â¢s domestic air travel market. However due to a severe financial crisis faced by the airline at the beginning of 2012, it has the lowest market share since April 2012.The airline has temporarily shut down its operations when on October 20, 2012 the DGCA suspended its flying license. This suspension had been due to failure to give an effective response to the show-cause notice issued by DGCA. However, The airline had locked out its employees for several days before this suspension. On 25 October 2012, the employees agreed to return to work. Strategic Management ââ¬Å"Strategic management is an ongoing process that assesses the business and the industries in which the company is involved; assesses its competitors and sets goals and strategies to meet all existing and potential competitors; and then reassesses each strategy annually or quarterly [i.e. regularly] to determine how it has been implemented and whether it has succeeded or needs replacement by a new strategy to meet changed circumstances, new technology, new competitors, a new economic environment., or a new social, financial, or political environment.â⬠(Lamb, 1984) The systematic analysis of the factors associated with customers and competitors(the external environment) and the organization itself(the internal environment) to provide the basis for maintaining optimum management practices. The objective of strategic management is to achieve better alignment of corporate policies and strategic priorities. Sociological Todayââ¬â¢s air traveler is like any other consumer looking for value for money. Disposable incomes are on the rise and the consumer is willing to spend more for quality and brands. Air travel is no more about transporting passengers. It is more about the flying experience. People like travelling in planes. ââ¬ËKingfisher airlinesââ¬â¢ has a very good social image. Being a five star airlines, customers want to travel with Kingfisher. Also, the brand charges a premium price that is why only upper Socio Economic Class people prefer Kingfisher airlines. The lifestyle of the people is improving. Luxury is becoming necessary. They are ready to pay more for luxury services. Kingfisher has a strong advantage here. So, we can conclude that sociological conditions are favouring Kingfisher airlines. Technological People are becoming more and more tech-savvy. Kingfisher does provide a TV at the back of the seat. That means every commuter has his own TV. Apart from that, Kingfisher also has facilities such as e-booking. Now, commuters can even book the tickets by mobiles. So, it can be stated that Kingfisherââ¬â¢s image and sales are driven by technology too. Economic Figures indicate that purchasing power of Indians is increasing. People look for more options now, even luxury goods. Bank Credit is easily available in case of travelling. Economic slowdown is one of the major factor which is affecting the sales of aviation industry. In INDIA there is a mixed economy so private organization easily perform their tasks within any given economic system of course, organization are influenced by a variety of economic features over which they have little independent control, such as inflation, interest rates and recession Another important input to the enterprise is the nature of government fiscal and policies. Ecological One important factor is that how natural factor affects the aviation industry as whole. The most important factor is the stability of the weather. The timings of the flight are highly affected by shifts in weather. Also, it can be noticed that a highly unstable weather is directly proportional to the added costs to the company. For example, if there is a delay in the flight, the company has to provide facility for accommodations of commuters. In India, weather is quite stable in most of the time during the year. Thus, aviation is a profitable business in India, if we consider ecological factor. Political The political environment is stable. In India, government changes after 5 years. Also, it is a democratic country. Kingfisher has an added advantage over here that the owner of Kingfisher, Vijay Mallya has very good political network. That means even political environment favours Kingfisher airlines. Legal Aviation fuel prices in India are regulated by government. So the competition for price becomes quite still. All the companies in the industry have to pay the same amount for fuel. Now companies can increase or decrease the prices depending on the services they provide. A premium service provider, of course, would charge the prices for its services. Ethical Indians are highly ethical people. They always make a trade off between what is right and what is wrong before they make any purchase decision. For example, if a company says that 50% of their contributions will go for the charity, then Indians are more likely to buy products or services of that company. Kingfisher airline gives value for the money. It is Indiaââ¬â¢s only five star airline service provider. Hence, considered ethical. Porterââ¬â¢s 5 Forces for Kingfisher Airlines Threats from competitors: The level of threat from the domestic competitors is very high. Competitors like Jet Airways, Indian are some of the old well established players in the market which prove to be strong competitors for the emerging Kingfisher Airlines Threats from new entrants: The level of threat from new entrants is quite low such as Virgin Atlantic, Qantas. The major players in the Indian aviation industry form an obstacle to foreign airlines and moreover Indian flyers prefer to have an Indian experience on the flight. Threats of substitutes: The introduction of high speed trains, high tech buses and other means of transport has given more options to people to travel. Aviation in India is booming and with the entry of several new players in the market competition has stiffened. In such a scenario it is imperative for any airline to build its brand and have a focused marketing strategy in place Bargaining power of suppliers: The bargaining power of suppliers is medium. For example, Airbus and Boeing are the major aircraft manufacturers and there arenââ¬â¢t many aircraft manufacturers other than these two, this confines Kingfisherââ¬â¢s options therefore the bargaining power of Airbus or Boeing increases. In case of other suppliers such as caters the bargaining power of the suppliers is low therefore Kingfisher has many other options of caters to contract to. Bargaining power of customers: The bargaining power of the customers is low since kingfisher is designed to meet the total comfort and value for money; therefore customers arenââ¬â¢t reluctant to pay a little more sum to gain this experience. Competition Analysis Kingfisherââ¬â¢s only strong obstacle proves to be Jet Airways, since Jet has control on both ends of the market and secondly it has penetrated into the international market as well. Benchmarking against Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines has acquired Air Deccan which was one of the most profitable low cost airlines, hence kingfisher too has entered in the lower end of the market but bearing in mind that they havenââ¬â¢t changed the name ââ¬Å"Deccanâ⬠to ââ¬Å"Kingfisher Airlinesâ⬠so that the brand doesnââ¬â¢t lower. Kingfisher is still testing the lower end of the market with Deccan. Kingfisher is also going to start non-stop flights to US so as to foray into the international market.
West Side Story Spin on Romeo and Juliet
Fiction, whether it is a movie, play or a story depicts an assortment of human emotions. Although humans experience a variety of emotions, the most influential among them is the feeling of love. Love has varied forms, it can be the tenderly love of a mother, the affectionate love of a friend or the passionate love of a young person for his/her lover. Numerous stories and plays have been written depicting this passionate love. This form of love is a favorite subject of filmmakers; lovers are portrayed in the movies time after time. The audiences are attracted to the romantic portrayal of love in these movies. One such tale of love is ââ¬Å"Romeo and Julietâ⬠, a play written by William Shakespeare. The central characters in the play are the young lovers, Romeo and Juliet who have become the quintessence of young lovers all over the world. This tragical love story has been the subject of many movies. The most famous movie which is a version of the romantic tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is the ââ¬Å"West Side Storyâ⬠, directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. Although the plot of the movie ââ¬Å"West Side Storyâ⬠is based on the play ââ¬Å"Romeo and Julietâ⬠, there are differences as far as the styling and the end of the movie is concerned. Portrayal of Romeo and Juliet The play ââ¬Å"Romeo and Julietâ⬠, a romantic tragedy by Shakespeare, depicts the story of two lovers who meet a tragic end in the course of their love story. The play is set in the city of Verona, where families of Capulet and Montague are frequently fighting against each other. Amidst this animosity, Romeo, the son of Montague and Juliet, the daughter of Capulet fall in love the very moment they see each other in a party. But fate leads them to their tragic end, as both the lovers kill themselves. West Side Storyâ⬠by Robert Wise, is an adaptation of the classic love story, Romeo and Juliet. The story has been altered according to the needs of modern times. The feuding families are replaced by the American gang, the Jets and the gang from Puerto Rica, the Sharks. The Jets hate the Sharks, for they think that the Sharks have invaded their territory. The young lovers in the movie are Tony, a member of the Jets gang and Maria who is the sister of Bernardo, the leader of Sharks gang. Tony and Maria fall for each other when they meet at a dance party. They love each other passionately, forgetting the feud between their respective gangs. In a fight between Riff and Bernardo, Riff is killed by Bernardo. Infuriated at the death of his best friend, Tony kills Bernardo. When Tony explains the situation to Maria, she forgives Tony for killing her brother as she is deeply in love with him. But Tony is killed by Chino, a member of Sharks gang when Tony comes out in the streets, upon hearing the wrong message of Mariaââ¬â¢s death. Maria is shattered by the death of Tony as fate snatches away her love from her. The classic tale of love of Romeo and Juliet is portrayed in the movie in a different setting and manner. Styling The style adopted by Robert Wise in the movie differs from the play ââ¬Å"Romeo and Julietâ⬠. The romantic tale of Romeo and Juliet is depicted in the movie in an urban setting and in different circumstances. The modern society in the movie is in tune with the present times. The movie with its story of romantic love, excellent music and vibrant dance catches the attention of the audiences. The movie succeeds in capturing the fervor of the youth through the lively dancing. The tender love which blooms amidst the hatred and rivalry of the gangs touches the heart. The passion depicted in the movie is similar to the passion of Romeo and Juliet but the expression of their love and the surroundings in which Tony and Maria meet are different. The modern style presented in the movie brings forth the old story of Romeo and Juliet in a new and attractive form. The songs and dances in the movie make the story more vibrant and vivacious. The movie is altered to suit the tastes of people in the modern times who view movie as a source of entertainment and leisure. The environment and the characters in the movie reflect the society in which the audiences are leading their lives. The setting of the play ââ¬Å"Romeo and Julietâ⬠is far different from the environment of the modern society. Changes There are numerous changes in the movie when compared to the plot of the play ââ¬Å"Romeo and Julietâ⬠. The rivalry between the families of Romeo and Juliet is depicted through the animosity of the Jets gang and Sharks gang. The plot is also changed according to the needs of a movie. In the play ââ¬Å"Romeo and Julietâ⬠, Romeo and Juliet marry secretly but in the movie Tony and Maria never get married. Fate plays an important role in the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet. It is this fate that leads to the death of Romeo and Juliet. But in the movie, the death of Tony is caused, owing to the rivalry of the Jets gang and the Sharks gang. ââ¬Å"It is not a cosmic misunderstanding but angry gunfire that kills Tony, and Maria doesn't die at all; she snatches the gun and threatens to shoot herself, but drops it ââ¬â perhaps because suicide would have been too heavy a load for the movie to carry. (Ebert). The ending of the movie is also different from the ending of the play ââ¬Å"Romeo and Julietâ⬠. Ending The play ââ¬Å"Romeo and Julietâ⬠ends with the suicide of Romeo and Juliet. To save Juliet from marrying another man, Lawrence devises a plan according to which Juliet will drink a potion that will make her appear as if she is dead. Juliet drink s the potion on the night before her wedding and her family mourns her death, as the effect of the potion makes them to believe that Juliet is dead. But Romeo, oblivious of the plan, is shocked when he hears about Julietââ¬â¢s death. Heart-broken and dejected, he ends his life at the tomb of Juliet, by consuming poison. Upon awaking Juliet finds Romeo dead, she also kills herself with the Romeoââ¬â¢s dagger. In the movie, Tony is killed by a member of the Sharks gang. Although Maria is devastated by Tonyââ¬â¢s death, she is not shown as committing suicide. The death of Romeo and Juliet is caused by a misunderstanding; this element makes the story of Romeo and Juliet more tragic. Tony dies in the movie, owing to the gang rivalry. In spite of being shattered by the death of her lover, Maria holds herself from killing herself. Conclusion The movie ââ¬Å"West Side Storyâ⬠is adapted from the play ââ¬Å"Romeo and Julietâ⬠. The style and setting in the movie has been changed according to the needs of the modern society. The plot of the play ââ¬Å"Romeo and Julietâ⬠is more tragic compared to the story of the movie ââ¬Å"West Side Storyâ⬠. Romeo and Juliet end their lives in the play whereas Tony is killed by a member of Sharks gang. Maria is grief-stricken by Tonyââ¬â¢s death but she stops herself from taking her own life.
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
What characterizes Calicut in the 14th and 15th centuries and how did Essay
What characterizes Calicut in the 14th and 15th centuries and how did it interact with other parts of the world at that time - Essay Example It was open to Europeans by the invasion of Vasco Da Gama in May 1498 that put Kerala on the map of the modern world. The experiences of Da Gamaââ¬â¢s voyage to India mentioned in Roteiro characterized Calicut as a city rich in spices, which had a great demand in the East and the West. The valuable natural resources of Calicut are mentioned by Ibn Battuta, a traveler, in his memoir, ââ¬ËA Gift to those who contemplate the wonders of cities and the marvels encountered in travelââ¬â¢. Battuta, in his experiences in Calicut, is amused by the quantity of trade carried out by the merchants from the Arab and the China with large number of ships resting at the shore. The Roteiro illustrates why the Portuguese wish direct overseas access to the rich markets of India and beyond. It was mainly because of the numerous duties and profit margin placed on spices. The invasion through sea by Vasco Da Gama was because of the closure of land routes and expected to make more than 600,000 cruz ados per year that the Sultan of Egypt enjoyed. Calicut was a commercial emporium; it was also an important centre of gemstone production. The richness in its resources bought merchants from most of the Islamic world and China which were observed by Ibn Battuta and Ma Huan. The city was largely connected to different parts of the world due its gained recognition as rich in spices and gems (Andrea and Overfield, 8). Apart from its commercial activity, Battuta mentions about the hospitality of Samudri Raja, honor accorded to the agents in charge of the Chinese ships who came for the purpose of trade and whose ships were resting at harbor. It can be understood from the experiences of Battuta, the Chinese invested heavily in commerce with Calicut not only because of its resources but for the kind of protection it received from the King of Calicut. Customer
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Non verbal communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1
Non verbal communication - Essay Example However others feel comfortable Eye contact alters the meaning of other nonverbal actions. For instance people tend to adjust their sense of personal space by limiting their eye contact according to Huber, Spatz and Balduzzivv (36). Eye contact is a very sensitive aspect of nonverbal behavior. Posture which is the way an individual position themselves is very sensitive as it communicates various messages. For instance kneeling, stiff and cringing, each of these communicate different messages. Locomotion is the way of physical movement in a given space also implies various meanings and also affects the feeling of those doing the movement. However this is less sensitive as people may make same movement but have different meaning for the movement. On the other hand, pacing this refers to the manner in which an action is carried out, for instance; walk, run, skip or climb. People may act in a similar way but imply different meanings in their action as suggested by Huber, Spatz and Balduzzivv (36). For instance one may run to lose weight while another may run due to urgency. The ability t express yourself nonverbally s very important for ever one whether we can talk or not. How you express yourself nonverbally and read other peopleââ¬â¢s nonverbal expressions is very important. Your body appearance at the time of communication is exchanged s depended on the intonation in which the message is conveyed. Nonverbal communication is one of the important aspects in as far as conveying confidence and sure assurance when meeting with other people as suggested by Blatner (1). Nonverbal communication usually complements the verbal communication although sometimes it may contradict. Using nonverbal communication may act as a substitute to verbal communication. The ability to use nonverbal cues also helps in accenting verbal communication as verbal tones show the real meaning of
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