Need Help ?

Our Previous Samples

More than 6, 700 people died in the world's latest humanitarian crisis as of 201 ...

More than 6, 700 people died in the world's latest humanitarian crisis as of 2018. From political debates to UN involvement questioning, the Rohingya Crisis has become the cause of many discussions. Thousands of news networks covered updates from channels across the world. Nonetheless, after a few months, media outlets decreased coverage on the topic, seeking another attractive sensation. The massacres and brutality seemed to vanish from people’s mind as they began to focus on more entertaining subjects. Eventually, many began to wonder if repetitive screening of violence could play a role in how people react towards inhumane things. Due to constant feed of violence and decreasing responsiveness to alarm, people desensitize humanitarian issues.

Get original essay

Netflix, TV shows, and social media are all one of many diversions people consume today. Outlets as such provide distractions for viewers around the world at any time of the day. While it facilitates communication, media no doubt has impending changes on the mind and behavior of people. When viewing horrific activities, reactions like fear, alarm and disgust presumably should be common in people. However, studies show that as violent images become consistent in the daily entertainment of an individual, the less they respond to the alarm stimuli of the brain. Many psychologists predict that frequent violent “media exposure [could] contribute to a blunted response”. Major shootings, massacres or group brutalities will appear as a common occurrence than indicate the gravity of a situation to such individuals. Unknowingly, the emotion conveying parts of the brain such the amyglanda will begin to absorb the entertainment feed as a stimulus, undermining real life events as a result.

In a 2010 study of media exposure by psychologist Laura Stockdale, 25 participants were repeatedly shown either a normal or violent movie and asked to complete a gender discrimination task using faces. The results concluded that constant viewing led to the suppression “of implicit emotional processing”. Stockdale’s observations portray a specific situation a group of people endured once they were constantly subjected to varying violent movies. With each repeated screening, the judgment of the participants changed from less critical to dismissive. The study also suggested a notable decrease in the stimulation of prefrontal cortex, the analyzing part of the human brain.

Similarly, another study was conducted by researchers using violent movies with similar concepts. The participants were to watch nine violent and comedy scenes and then asked which scenes or victims they felt concerned for. The experiment concluded that gradually, the feeling of sympathy towards the characters in the movie lessened as “significant effects were found for initial reports of sympathy” of the participants. The study’s growth model resulted in a curvilinear pattern representing that the participants’ alarm responses to victim deaths decreased. Evidently, this shows that the continuous portrayal of any activity leads the brain to accommodate it after time. People overtime get used to such occurrences and in a sense crave for possible distractions in other media outlets or refuse to acknowledge the situation.

However, there is a variance between the impact of desensitization towards people of different ages. Studies indicate a noticeable association of people watching media violence as a child and their behavior as young adults. Most psychologists deduce that children imitate norms found in the media and later on become socially accustomed to such actions. However, there is no conclusive correlation found when comparing people who displayed aggressive behavior during childhood versus their progression as adults. This information suggests that violent behaviors are more likely to be imitated by people from a young age. Unlike before, when people watch violence as entertainment, they unknowingly begin to see the behavior to be ordinary. Just like how a child brought up in strongly biased household could enact such bias unto their daily life, so could a child that is desensitized to violence. Once a child accommodates such perspectives on the world, their addition to society could be possibly dangerous to themselves or others. This aspect gives the possible side effects of desensitization to become even more damaging. While other social or cultural components may alter the personality of a child during their developmental stage, media violence indeed is a major contributor.

Even so, it is also important to note that such desensitized perspectives towards violence changes once it becomes the self-interest of an individual. The human brain is vulnerable to many changes caused by the sociocultural challenges of the world. Since the new age of technology, various unforeseen impacts of such changes are beginning to be noticed by people today. Unfortunately, the repetitivity of media violence desensitizes peoples’ brain responses towards important issues. Those who are susceptible to such influences particularly children face harmful side effects in the future. While it is important to note the injustices of the world, it is not normal to become accustomed to such events.


READ MORE >>

Table of contentsIntroductionCommunicative skillsEmpathyPersonal imageWork facin ...

Table of contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Communicative skillsEmpathyPersonal imageWork facing the public, a specialty
  3. Conclusion

Introduction

Whether you develop your work in a company or if you are an independent professional, there are certain skills that can help you interact with others, thus facilitating the achievement of objectives.  Today we are going to deepen something more in a concrete characteristic that possesses some of the many types of activities in the labor sector. Working for the public requires some talents and skills that can be developed independently of the potential of each one. This essay about talents and skills emphasizes the importance of communication skills, empathy, and personal image when working for the public, as they are essential keys to providing excellent customer service and achieving professional success.

Get original essay

Image, empathy, and communication skills are the basis to develop good work when our occupation requires working for the public. Whatever the business sector where the work is developed, when it is done also serving the public, there is a personal interaction that has its own qualities.

The generalized idea that is maintained on the kindness necessary to work facing the public is quite vague. This is a type of work that requires high social skills, and people who know how to solve and overcome crises in order to provide excellent customer service, resolutive and personalized.

Communicative skills

Communication skills differ considerably from the popular belief that considers them easy to speak. This last concept is more linked to charlatanism, a disused quality in the workplace and one of the worst enemies of anyone who intends to work in front of the public.

Communication skills are very effective tools in any area of our life that charge even more value to the work performance of those occupations in which social interaction is necessary. Perhaps, the most important is active listening.

When we are communicators, the information we transmit must be clear, taking care that it is consistent with our non-verbal language. The tone and the volume must agree with the content of the message and our corporal expression as well. Knowing how to maintain eye contact is a skill that improves with experience and is sensitive to genuine interest.

Empathy

Sympathy is a very valuable quality in public works. On the other hand, nothing is more ugly than a person who tries to be nice, without being, and also does not get to find out what are the real needs of a client.

Trust is what professionally substitutes for hollow sympathy, and this acquires naturalness through a good dose of empathy. Getting in the other's shoes is the fastest and most effective way to care for someone and do it in a correct and professional way.

Those who have years of experience working with the public know that treating a client correctly does not refer so much to empty kindness, but to know how to maintain a conversation in the context in which communication flows. It does not make sense to be very close when the tone of the conversation is not that, just as it does not make sense to be very distant when the tone of the conversation is not consistent with the disposition either.

Personal image

There is no second chance for a first impression. This is an issue that leaves no option for negotiation. Presence is a quality that includes several aspects and all of them are important. If one of them fails, it devalues all others.

Good presence involves body posture, facial expression, attire, the appearance of our hands, hair, shoes, etc. In this sense, nothing should be left to chance and the result should be natural, neat to the extreme, and the result of knowing how to be and be.

In this sense, there are dress codes and appearance in general that should be known and not neglected at any time. Personal image is one of the most important assets to work for the public.

Work facing the public, a specialty

Regardless of the type of work that is developed and the skills that are required, an occupation facing the public benefits from a second layer of skills related to interpersonal treatment. In this sense, managing them with ease affects the improvement of job opportunities and also in the good development of your professional career. In addition, it allows you to exercise it in a much more comfortable and satisfactory way for yourself.

Conclusion

There is a good offer of specialized professionals that can help you in this regard. Also, the books and the literature that has been published on the matter can help us; yes, transcending the theoretical plane: it is of little use to know the possibilities of active listening if we do not do it later. Thus, information is important, but the practice is more important. 


READ MORE >>

I chose to write Starry Night analysis essay as I chose to do Vincent Van Gogh p ...

I chose to write Starry Night analysis essay as I chose to do Vincent Van Gogh painting called “Vincent Van Gogh”. This was considered to be completed in Poet Impressionism movement. It is one of my favorites as I find it very beautiful and intriguing. It has been my favorite since I first saw it in 1st grade in my former teacher, Dan Sorensen’s art room hanging and he told us about him and why he always found him interesting as an Italian artist seeing he grew up with a college roommate buying paintings as he felt they had a calming effect on them he told us that he was more of a painter that set a peaceful tone to many’s saddening and depressing mood and I must certainly agree as his paintings are very enlightening and very colorful to show how one’s mood can certainly change into a brighter outlook within time.

Get original essay

Van Gogh composed Starry Night in 1889 in Saint-Paul-de-Mausole’s psychiatric ward near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence where he survived well and was granted more liberation than other sufferers. If paid attention to, he could exit the hospital grounds and was granted permission to coat, study, and move back into his own room and was supplied a workplace He underwent seldom setbacks and went into psychotic states - formally analyzed with seizures – Seemingly his mental state was bettering.

Sadly, he had worsened. He began to suffer delusions and had suicidal thought process as clinical depression had set in. His talent had substantiated polytonal change. Integration of darker hues returned from commencement of his line of work and “Starry Night” is an exemplary illustration of this specified alteration. Blue overpowers this masterpiece mixing mounds into the atmosphere. The little hamlet is positioned at the foundation in the painting in shades of chocolate brown, silver, and wild blue yonder. Despite the fact, each artifact is perfectly lineated in pitch-black, canary and pearl hue of celestial bodies and lunar atmosphere are noticeable more so than the sky, reeling in a person’s eyes towards the atmosphere’s detailing in the masterpiece.

These are the more attentive features of this masterpiece by Van Gogh. The proficiency in the masterpiece is very noticeable. The atmosphere is in a spiraled feature, with clouds featuring a bright hue circumferencing the celestial bodies and moon. If you glance carefully, on the cypress tree the celestial bodies and lunar attribution slope with the curvature of the tree limbs. This entire circumstance is worldly and ethereal. The hills simply flatten in a downward motion within the diminutive town below. Contrary, the settlement is positioned horizontal as well as vertical, complete accompanying rigid lineature interrupting strokes of paintbrush and rhythm of those as well. Small trees dampen rigidity of the village distributing universe within the artifacts.

A major point of passion about this specific painting is it was developed wholly from Van Gogh’s mind. This area does not complement circumferencing Saint-Paul or the viewpoint from his windowpane. As a man who faithfully paints what he views. it’s an excellent pause from Van Gogh’s usual labor.

The difference in format plays a role on nature against unusual thoughts contraband realism. Nature could even be conceptual, heavens above in this project. Genesis 37:9, Joseph declares, “And he thought of an alternative vision and declared to his brothers, stating “Notice, I’ve envisioned an epiphany additional and take notice of the sunlight and lunar visionaries and ordinal celestial sights that paid obedience unto me,” This was foreboding someday his loved ones would pay homage to him as an omnipotent personage. Few individuals correlate this passage into the painting. Possibly, it’s acknowledgment to Van Gogh’s loved ones who were hesitant of his artistic talent, with his brother only believing his success would flourish.

It may be that Van Gogh plainly desired to aspire in superior control in his artistic production as he was raised in faithful household. Split the artistic creation into three sections The atmosphere is the providential and is far and away the consummate and surreal, picturesque portion of the masterpiece on the far side of humanlike apprehension and is approximately out of reach. Move down a single grade to the coniferous tree, the mounds and the various trees on the dry land. They curve and curl, yet soft standpoints that fit the cottony convolution of the sky. The final portion is the residential area. The unbent formation and sharp slant detaches it from the entirety of the painting, ostensibly isolating it from the “heavens” of the sky. However, observe the specks of ligneous plant wrapped up through and through the settlement, how the steeple of the place of worship reaches heavenward to the atmosphere. The Savior is transported to the residential being painted on the masterpiece by Vincent Van Gogh himself in this beautiful work of art.

Sources

  • Artble.com. (2019). Starry Night Analysis. Retrieved August 12, 2019, from https://www.artble.com/artists/vincent_van_gogh/paintings/starry_night/more_information/analysis
  • The Van Gogh Gallery. (2019). Van Gogh Starry Night. Retrieved August 12, 2019, from https://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/starry-night.html
  • Van Gogh Gallery. (2019). Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.vangoghgallery.com/catalog/Painting/508/Starry%20Night.html

READ MORE >>

Table of contentsStudy Plan Sample (Masters in Communication and Information Eng ...

Table of contents

  1. Study Plan Sample (Masters in Communication and Information Engineering)
  2. Statement of PurposeWhy come to China to study in Communication and Information Engineering at Chongqing University of Post and Telecommunication?Why not pursue less expensive alternatives in Pakistan?What is my overall educational objective?How will this Chinese degree increase my chances in the Pakistan labor market?Following my course of study
  3. My Interest in Computer Science and Information Technology
  4. Research BackgroundKeen InterestChosen AreaWhy China and My Contribution to the development of research in China and to the society
  5. Conclusion
  6. Works Cited

Study Plan Sample (Masters in Communication and Information Engineering)

Statement of Purpose

My study plan for Master’s Degree in Communication and Information Engineering at the Chongqing University of Post and Telecommunication in China is concentrated on the discipline of communication and Technology. This is a natural progression for me because I already possess an ICS and will pass B.S(I.T) [four years] in June both related to computer science, technology and networking. Now, after dedicating six years towards fulfilling my objective of becoming a fully-fledged authority on Communication Engineering, I feel well prepared for a Master program on the topic. Chongqing University of Post and Telecommunication offer me the best possible opportunities to acquire leading-edge knowledge and later contribute to China.

Get original essay

Why come to China to study in Communication and Information Engineering at Chongqing University of Post and Telecommunication?

I selected Chongqing University of Post and Telecommunication because its research focus, facilities, and professors are ideal to help me meet my precise goals. My choice was made after comparing and contrasting carefully several different engineering schools. While many universities conduct investigations into theories, this institution’s Faculty of Engineering’s specialist trait is research into computer technology used in the world. Not only will I be acquiring practical knowledge in my specific field, but I will also be gaining expertise that is in great demand by industrial and companies sectors in China. Additionally, I am attracted to the fact that the Faculty of Engineering holds strong ties with industrial organizations. The Faculty partners provide substantial funding, advanced facilities, and suitable test environments for a thesis in Communication and Information. Furthermore, the Master’s supervisors Chairs in intelligent systems, which indicate that experts with extensive and pioneering knowledge will appropriately guide my thesis and use me for excellent projects. I also chose these professors because not only will I be expected to study my particular area, I additionally must acquire a broad education regarding the theory and application of many kinds of technologies. Therefore, as I learn widely about computers application, technologies, I will be supervised capably in my area of computers.

Why not pursue less expensive alternatives in Pakistan?

Of course, obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Pakistan was my first preference because it is my home. I, therefore, considered applying for the d program at Government College University Faisalabad in Pakistan, especially as I have worked there and it is the leading university in Pakistan regarding this subject. However, while Pakistan is cheaper than China, the issue of cost does not determine my choice of university, So I apply for the scholarship for a Master’s Degree. Due to my knowledge and skills, the Chongqing University of Post and Telecommunication in China is offering me the necessary financial assistance to fully cover tuition and living expenses. Most important for me was the right thesis environment. Sadly, Pakistan is not the best option presently. I know from firsthand experience that while Government College University Faisalabad has the broadest Information Technology in Pakistan, it mainly focuses on networking and technology, and I already have considerable knowledge of this area. Plus there is the key fact that most of the leading Network Technology professionals in Pakistan were trained in Lahore. They left Pakistan because western countries still hold the finest technology and preeminent teaching. Like them, I wish to benefit from China’s education and put it to good use upon my return to Pakistan.

What is my overall educational objective?

My overall educational objective is to use the Master’s as a vehicle to become a world-class specialist in Communication and Information Engineering, especially Communication. Exposure now to cutting-edge technological breakthroughs and participation in advanced projects would prepare me for a brilliant long-term career in Pakistan. I will furthermore use my education to help Pakistan integrate itself with the global academic environment because I will present papers at seminars and international conferences.

How will this Chinese degree increase my chances in the Pakistan labor market?

My prospects in Pakistan’s labor market would be extraordinary after the acquisition of a Masters’s in Information and Communication Engineering. Computers are vital technological tools for Pakistan’s industries and manufacturing, which must upgrade their automation features to keep pace with international standards. To give one example, Pakistan is investing billions in city subways, and Communication technologies inevitably will play an important role in their construction. Because China’s requirements for information and communication experts greatly exceed the number of talented professionals, those in possession of the information on the latest international developments and skills applicable to handle projects at the most challenging level will be in great demand. Furthermore, aside from hands-on knowledge, what I would offer an employer was evidence that I had acquired new concepts, a fresh mindset, the ability to conduct senior-level independent Study And make a Thesis, and a broad international perspective. My competitors and Friends – Master’s Degree holders from Pakistan’s universities – would be able to make less impressive claims in these areas. Additionally, Pakistan’s government encourages returnees with preferential policies, such as ample funds for thesis and favorable conditions for establishing businesses. I can state with confidence that the Chinese degree would open doors for me – to construction enterprises and multinational companies. In Pakistan, they all would view me as a precious potential member of their personnel. A Master from a western country is seen as having a positive impact to play in the development of a domestic organization, not just in their specific job but also their approach to work. Master degree Holder returnees are valued as being cooperative team workers, forward-thinking, and highly proactive when faced with challenges.

Following my course of study

I hold plans regarding how I aim to use my degree in the long-term when I return to Pakistan and have already secured backing from family and colleagues to facilitate their realization. Those plans include using my Study to establish a communication company, with the help of my father and professors at Chongqing University of Post and Telecommunication. I will return to Pakistan after my degree in China because my ties to this top university are strong. My advisor has said I would be welcome to return, and my target would be to set up at the university. This is entirely feasible due to my contacts. With my advisor’s support, the center would attract from leading organizations.

In short, the Master program in Communication and Information Engineering at the Chinese Chongqing University of Post and Telecommunication serves all of my important short, medium, and long-term goals. I will invest all my efforts in research and then return for an exciting career.

My Interest in Computer Science and Information Technology

Research Background

I would like to present my gratitude for being provided an opportunity to describe my career history and future objectives. Needless to say, we live in a world where technology has become a necessity to live life with ease and to make technology dig deep down into usefulness is a constant aim to pursue for computer engineers – like me. It would not be wrong to say that much of the progress and development are due to rapid advances in the field of Computer Science and Information Technology. Since the invention of computers, incessant efforts have been made in order to make computers learn and acquire intelligence. If we can program a computer to learn – that is, to improve its performance through experience, we can achieve Artificial Intelligence to outperform its very creator: the human himself, in many aspects. This has fascinated me to take the very field as my career.

Starting from my childhood days, being a school student, I have had a strong aptitude for science subjects with a constant urge to experiment and try out new things. I burnt the midnight oil to prove my mettle with successful results.

For my undergraduate studies, I chose to pursue my field of interest and secured admission in the Computer Systems Engineering department of Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology (QUEST), Nawabshah, Sindh, Pakistan – one of the well-reputed universities of Pakistan. I am happy to state that I obtained “1st Division” in my undergraduate studies, with being in top 10 students in the batch. Like a duck in the water, I was quickly absorbing and assimilating information and knowledge in subjects like Artificial Intelligence (Robotics), Programming Languages, Software Engineering, Microprocessor, Interfacing & Assembly, Data Structures & Algorithm, Digital Logic Design, Network Security, Computer Graphics, and Computer Simulation and Modeling. The grand absorption of knowledge of aforementioned fields provided me with a strong footing in the theoretical concept of Computer Systems Engineering.

Along with academics, I am glad to state my affiliation with and activeness in social work which intended for the prosperity of human lives. I happen to have participated in Youth and Social Innovation Conference which encourage the younger generation to demonstrate their skills and inborn talent and be motivated to do innovative thinking. I also participated in Model United Nations (MUNs) which groomed my debating confidence and made me knowledgeable about international relations. My participation in events like Technomind helped me recognize my hosting talents as well as programming skills, since it was an event that focused on IT skills of participants.

My academic experience in research and experimentation includes the creation of an Unmanned Autonomous Rail-track Trolley for Surveillance, in which I led my team members and we deployed dual micro-technology viz. Arduino and Raspberry Pi microcontroller to record and process the video feed of the rail-track and send the output back to the railway personnel. The project aimed to eradicate malicious activities conducted on railtrack resulting in the damage of millions of rupees. The project got recognition in the entire university for its usefulness. A bit earlier than my final year, I got fortunate enough to create a Hi-Tech Medicare Wheelchair the main task of which was to measure the patients’ blood pressure, pulse rate and temperature. It was an Arduino based design of joystick controlled power wheelchair system having other technologies like GPS and GSM. The project perfectly complied with the standards of ISO and WHO to maintain quality standards. I also worked on the creation of a 6 Degree of robotic arm using Computer Vision. The focused idea was to design a robust robotic arm which could perform multifunctional tasks with the help of various sensors like proximity, touch as well as sonar. The controller of the manipulator was based on Arduino UNO Microcontroller and the main focus of the project was to focus on all axes of the manipulator to a desired location/point to carry/lift desired objects and unload at a desired location.

The aforementioned projects gave me an insight into different fields of Computer Engineering and through that, I was convinced about choosing the ultimate field of my interest: Artificial Intelligence, to be researched and studied by me in depth. I was also enlightened about different aspects of team-working and team-leading skills which are going to help me in the best way in my graduate studies.

Keen Interest

Having completed Bachelor’s studies in the aforementioned department, my interest grew stronger for making contributions to Artificial Intelligence which itself is a cognitive task. Hence, I want to enable myself to create such systems, with the deployment of AI strategies, which could leave human intellect far behind. In addition to my personal interest, the reason for pursuing that particular field is my entitlement towards my responsibilities as a Pakistani national, which oblige me to pay back my two cents in form of research and creation of opportunities for younger people who could benefit from my learnings, especially those polished and obtained from my graduate studies in China. Having gone through all my experience and university education I have come to decide of pursuing my master’s degree in the department of “Computer Science and Technology.”Being an avid reader and tech-savvy individual, I constantly keep myself abreast with the latest technology up-gradation and research topics that not only broaden my horizons but expose me to the latest global strides in the area of technology. This has kindled a spark in me to carry out an extensive study in the field of Artificial Intelligence. It would be an eye-opener for me as to go in-depth to understand the technology and its values for the well-being of society.

Chosen Area

Why Choose Artificial Intelligence (AI): A passion to contribute healthily to the world and the desire to do chosen things with perfection has helped me achieve best results as a student. My motivation to choose Artificial Intelligence as a career path has been gradual but quite intriguing – as is the field itself. By profession, I am a Computer Systems Engineer and my favorite interest is to replicate human minds into something which could function intelligently without much interference from humans in real-time. The aforementioned could be achieved by cognitive learning by the machines and the timely deployment of the learning and solving of complex questions like “How can an intelligent machine be built?” is a mystery I would like to answer by immense research and discoveries in the field. For example, building an expert system that can do (somewhat) intelligent reasoning seemed like it’d open up a lot of possibilities, and also downright intriguing. The field makes me fascinated into diving quite deep into discovering the possibilities and answering with positivity the questions which are yet impossible to answer with the cognition of machines.

Why China and My Contribution to the development of research in China and to the society

The progressive educational standards of China have impressed me ever since I caught sense and realized the significance of a high-quality education. I believe that my chosen university is fortunate to have employed extremely distinguished faculty members who can discover the best talent and develop their chosen candidates into the seeds of progress in the world. Accordingly, I believe that being associated with the faculty in my desired institute would give me a great opportunity to pursue my career in Artificial Intelligence (AI), its research and experiments, hopefully, followed by productive inventions, which I am certain of. In addition to the conducive environment that China provides for study and research, I look forward to discovering the best of Chinese culture – especially the aspects that have made China to almost be the World’s Superpower in Technology and nearly much in the economy in just a total of 68 years. I also believe that Pakistan, which enjoys being a reliable neighbor of China, needs to learn a handful of progressive tactics from China – both in diplomacy and developing technology for global benefits. Furthermore, as a Computer Professional, I would like to contribute my innovative ideas and knowledge to the development of research in China and to the society by implementing my problem-solving skills and expertise into practice. I will do my best to be an asset to China and its society.

Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.

Get custom essay

Conclusion

I would like to end by saying that I am fully aware that a career in research and academics requires a high level of intelligence, unwavering dedication and a lot of sacrifice. I am confident that I would meet all the above demands, and, if given the Scholarship, would prove my mettle in being the best researcher and inventor in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Hence, I appeal to the Graduate Admissions Committee to consider me for admission.

Works Cited

  1. Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cqupt.edu.cn/
  2. Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications. (n.d.). Introduction to the School of Communication and Information Engineering. Retrieved from http://cie.cqupt.edu.cn/html/3/wenminggailan.html
  3. Government College University Faisalabad. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://gcuf.edu.pk/
  4. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pta.gov.pk/
  5. World Bank. (2022). Pakistan - Information and communication technology readiness assessment report. Retrieved from https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/292291637321102268/pdf/Pakistan-Information-and-Communication-Technology-Readiness-Assessment-Report.pdf
  6. Ali, S. (2022). The role of information and communication technology in Pakistan's economic development. Journal of Economic and Social Thought, 9(1), 70-78.
  7. Ahmed, Z. U., Anwar, M., & Qureshi, M. A. (2020). Impact of information and communication technology on economic growth: Evidence from Pakistan. The Journal of Developing Areas, 54(3), 19-37.
  8. China Scholarship Council. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.csc.edu.cn/
  9. Guo, S., Xu, S., & Ren, J. (2020). Innovation effects of returnees in China: A panel data analysis based on the mixed innovation index. Chinese Management Studies, 14(3), 570-588.
  10. Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People's Republic of China. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mohrss.gov.cn/

READ MORE >>

Table of contentsCauses of mastitis in dairy cowsSymptoms of mastitisHow to trea ...

Table of contents

  1. Causes of mastitis in dairy cows
  2. Symptoms of mastitisHow to treat mastitisHow to prevent spread of mastitis
  3. Conclusion
  4. References:

Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland in the udder. It occurs as bacteria enter the udder and cause damage to milk secreting ducts and tracts in the udder. Usually occurs when bacteria enter the udder through the teat canal. Mastitis can cause shirt term and permanent damage to the udder of a cow. “If cows recover from mastitis there can be a severe problems for the rest of the lactation” (AHBD Dairy, 2019). Mastitis comes in many forms which include clinical, sub clinical, chronic, e-coli, per acute, acute and sub-acute mastitis. Cows can become infected with the disease through many ways. Hygiene is the most important way of controlling mastitis within a dairy herd. It can be spread cow-to-cow, poor bedding bad milk hygiene practises and not milking out the cow thoroughly. Cows that have been infected with mastitis will usually have a higher somatic cell count than cows that have not been infected. The use of antibiotics should be limited to cases that are severe, it is said that prevention is the best course of action.

Get original essay

Causes of mastitis in dairy cows

Bad milking practises when milking cows has a major role with cows becoming infected with mastitis. A set procedure should be set out when milking cows, there teats should be washed, and dried before placing on the cup. Wearing gloves can also help to reduce the chances of a cow been infected with mastitis. Teat dip should be also used after “manufacturers have developed highly efficacious germicidal products that reduce the incidence of mastitis by 50 to 95%” (Nickerson, 2001). During the drying of period of a cows lactation it is advisable to us dry cow tubes and teat sealer to avoid any the teat from contracting any dirt in the milk secreting ducts. In periods of dry weather farmers should not wash teats as wet teats are more likely to contract mastitis. Prevention is the most important way of combating mastitis. Culling cows with high SCC or that commonly contract mastitis is important. Bedding conditions are important having poor or dirty bedding will lead to a raise in mastitis. When cows are indoors cases will increase, to prevent this happening scrap and lime cubicles ever twice daily. Milking machine maintenance is very important, rubbers and liners wear this causes them to slip when placed on the teat. This in turn will allow dirt to enter the cluster. Every 2000 milking’s liners should be changed (Mastitis, n.d.)

Symptoms of mastitis

As referred to in the above paragraph mastitis comes in many forms clinical, sub clinical, chronic, e-coli, per acute, acute and sub-acute mastitis. The most oblivious symptoms are swelling, heat, hardness, redness, or pain and in the milk such as a watery appearance, flakes, clots, or pus.

For farmers a way of knowing if there is mastitis presence is to be stripping cows every day or visually inspecting there udders. Another method of knowing if mastitis is present California mastitis test (CMT). The CMT “identifies subclinical mastitis by estimating the somatic cell count (SCC) of the milk and CellCheck”. Cows with mastitis can be start to lose yield appetite and be slow in movement.

  • Clinical mastitis: Clots in milk and change of milk composition.
  • Sub-clinical mastitis: There will not be major changes to the udder it will appear well however milk composition will change and may become watery.
  • Chronic mastitis: Milk will appear watery and possibly bloody.
  • Acute mastitis: Cow will show little change but her udder can swell and inflame and pain her while producing poor quality milk.
  • E-coli mastitis: Milk will come out of cow in a whiskey colour and can be difficult to cure however there is no smell off the milk.

How to treat mastitis

Inspected the cows for mastitis this can be done by stripping before milking or visually inspecting the udder to see if there is any abnormalities. If mastitis is found to present in a cow it usually only effects one quarter but it can effect multiple quarters. The effect cow should be milked into a dump line so not to mix the milk into the main bulk tank. If infected milk is placed in the bulk tank it will reduce the overall quality of the final product leaving the yard. After identifying the infected cow mastitis tubes should be injected into the infected quarter then an antibiotic tube should be administered via the teat canal and massaged into the quarter. This milk should be withheld from the bulk tank until the withdrawal period stated on the tube is over and the infection is cured. Culling persistently affected cows can reduce overall amounts of mastitis in the herd.

How to prevent spread of mastitis

Antibiotic are not the only solution to matitus. Farmers should be looking at reducing the amount of antibiotics they administer because of antibiotic resistance can build up in the herd. As referred to before prevention is the best course of action to limit mastitis in a herd of dairy cows. Mastitis hits the farmer in the pocket finically as milk from the cow cannot be placed in the bulk tank while been administered antibiotics. A cow’s lactation after been having mastitis will be affected, yields will be down its health may also suffer and might struggle to regain the condition it once had before been effected. This could affect her fertility as body condition score may be too low. The udder tissue may be permanently damaged depending on the type of infection.

Conclusion

Mastitis is disease that is very common in dairy herds in Ireland but yet it is a very simple disease to prevent from happening. Hygiene in the parlour and in the yard is the most important step to prevent cow becoming infected. Farmers need to get into a having a good milking practice keeping to all the steps outlined above to prevent mastitis to a limit in the herd. Simple things like maintaining milking equipment, housing and roadways reduce chances of mastitis. Keeping the average age of the herd young will reduce the chances of mastitis. Older cows are more likely to contract the disease. Mastitis in milk effects the quality of milk, this in turn will reduce the quality of milk been sent to a creamery. The creamery pays higher for quality of the milk that is sent to them.

References:

  • AHBD Dairy. (2019). Retrieved from https://dairy.ahdb.org.uk/technical-information/animal-health-welfare/mastitis/#.XFgse1z7QdU
  • How to use the California Mastitis Test properly. (2015, March 3). Retrieved from Agriland: https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/how-to-use-the-california-mastitis-test-properly/
  • Mastitis. (n.d.). Retrieved from ICBF: (https://www.icbf.com/wp/?page_id=2274, n.d.)
  • Nickerson, S. C. (2001). CHOOSING THE BEST TEAT DIP FOR MASTITIS CONTROL. Homer,Louisiana : Hill Farm Research Station.

READ MORE >>

Table of contentsPhysical structure of boron CarbideSummary of physical properti ...

Table of contents

  1. Physical structure of boron Carbide
  2. Summary of physical properties:Manufacturing processesApplications
  3. Environmental impacts and sustainability

Boron Carbide is one of the hardest materials in the world, it has many uses due to its extreme hardness and resistance to wear. Boron Carbide was first discovered by Henri Moissan in 1899 when he reacted Boron Oxide and fused it with Carbon in an electric arc furnace, it was not until the 1930’s that its chemical composition was estimated to be B4C. It is also known as black diamond because of its dark colour and extreme hardness.

Get original essay

Physical structure of boron Carbide

Boron Carbide is an advanced non-oxidized ceramic material, it has the chemical composition of B4C, however this is just an estimate because in practical situations Boron Carbide has a slight deficiency in the Carbon content, the structure of Boron Carbide is highly complex. Boron Carbide known as an icosahedron based boride, icosahedron is a solid shape with 20 sides and 30 edges, the icosahedra form a rhombohedral lattice. A rhombohedral is a 3 dimensional solid shape that looks like a rhombus. According to the company FELDCO international the composition of Boron Carbide powder is: 74% - 79% Boron, 17% - 24% Carbon, 0. 1% - 1% B203, 0. 2% - 0. 5% Iron, 0. 1% - 0. 3% Silicon.

Boron Carbide has a high capability to absorb neutrons and is resistant to wear as being a semi-conductor, which means that it has the conductivity between that of an insulator and conductor, semi-conductors are often used as components in electric circuits. Boron Carbide has a relatively low density of 2520 kg/m3 which means that the material is very lightweight, the hardness value of Boron Carbide is rated between 9 and 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, which ranks a material on a scale between 1 and 10, with 10 being the hardest material (diamond). Although the Mohs scale is useful to quickly see the hardness of a particular material the scale is inaccurate because it was created long ago. The hardness value of Boron Carbide is 2900-3580 kg/mm2. Boron Carbide has a young’s modulus of 450-470 GPa, and melting point of 2445 degrees Celsius, however it begins to oxidize once the temperature has exceeded 500 degrees Celsius, so the material should not be used if the temperature exceeds this temperature. Boron Carbide has an electrical conductivity of 140 seconds at 25 degrees Celsius, and thermal conductivity of 30-42 W/m. K at 25 degrees Celsius, and a thermal expansion co-efficient of 5x10

-6 degrees Celsius.

Summary of physical properties:

Density: 2520 Kg/m3

Hardness: 2900-3580 Kg/mm2

Young’s modulus: 450-470 GPa

Melting point: 2445 °C

Electrical conductivity: 140 s

Thermal conductivity: 30-42 W/m.

K Thermal expansion co-efficient: 5x10

-6 °C

Boron Carbide characteristics:

  • Extremely hard
  • Resistant to chemicals
  • Low density
  • Good nuclear ability to absorb neutrons
  • Difficult to sinter to relatively high densities.

Manufacturing processes

Boron Carbide is produced when Boron Trioxide (B2O3) reacts with Carbon (C) in the oxidation reduction process. This reaction occurs above the melting temperature of Boron Carbide, this temperature is obtained by an Electric Arc Furnace, large amounts of Carbon Monoxide are produced as a by-product of the reaction: 2B2O3 + 7C ?(?? ) B4C + 6COIn commercial use, Boron Carbide usually needs to be purified and milled to remove metallic impurities. Boron Carbide is difficult to sinter to full density because of its low self-diffusion co-efficient which is caused from its strong covalent bonds between its atoms, high resistance to grain boundary growth, and its low surface tension. Sintering is the process of making a compacted powder denser by eliminating the interparticle pores by thermal energy driven atomic diffusion, the diffusion can cause grain growth to be inevitable, grain growth is a process which competes against densification of the compacted powder. The densification increases the strength and toughness of the material but the grain growth results in the toughness and strength to degrade, therefore it is ideal to try reduce the grain growth as much as possible. The grain growth can be reduced, however this involves using pressure to assist the sintering process but this would involve a greater cost in the manufacturing process and therefore isn’t always economically viable.

Applications

Anti-ballistic armour: Boron Carbide has the physical properties of high hardness, high young’s modulus, as well as a low density. The combination of all these properties make the material ideal in having the excellent ability of being able to stop projectiles that are traveling at a high velocity. The low density and high hardness of Boron Carbide makes it a lightweight material that makes it possible to make a bullet proof vest from the material. A bullet proof vest made out of Boron Carbide has the potential to completely shatter a bullet on impact, leaving nothing more than a bruise on the person wearing the bullet proof vest. The material can also be used on tank and similar vehicles to act as armor plating.

Nozzles for water jet cutters: The extreme hardness and resistance to wear of Boron Carbide allows it to be used as a nozzle for high velocity and high pressure water jet cutters. The water jet is able to cut through metals and other materials, so the nozzle needs to be extremely resistant to wear so that the water jet stream is not distorted after continuous use.

Neutron absorbing material: Boron Carbide has the ability to capability to capture neutrons, Boron Carbide is typically used in nuclear power plants to protect the workers inside the power plant from neutrons that are being released during the nuclear power production process.

Abrasives: Boron Carbide is an extremely hard ceramic material, and because of this physical property it is often used as an abrasive in the lapping and polishing process. Lapping is the process of rubbing an abrasive in between two surfaces, the one material is the material that needs to be flattened and smoothened, and the other material is called the lap and can either be a hard or soft material. Lapping is used when a particular surface roughness and flatness is required that is beyond the ability of standard grinding.

Padlocks: Boron Carbide has the physical properties of being very hard and wear resistant which would make it an ideal material to choose in padlocks because of its ability to resist the action of cutters and sawing that may be used by a person intending to break the lock.

Replacement for Barium Nitrate: In green coloured fireworks the toxic metal Barium Nitrate, although Barium Nitrate is not harmful in small amount after continued use of fireworks such as in a theme park or military training ground the amount of Barium Nitrate may build up and become harmful to humans. Boron Carbide is a suitable replacement for Barium Nitrate because of its ability to burn for a long time and has a high light intensity when being burned.

Environmental impacts and sustainability

Environmental impact and sustainability refers to Boron Carbide’s ability to be recycled or reused after use, as well as its effects on the environment and people. Environmental impacts refers to the substance’s ability to negatively harm the surrounding environment or potentially harm people. Boron carbide’s sustainability refers to the material’s ability to be used reliably for a long period of time, if the material had a poor ability to be maintained or used at a certain level then it would not be a good material to use because it would wear or break easily. Sustainability also refers to the materials ability to be manufactured without depleting the natural resources used to create the substance.

Environmental impacts: Boron Carbide in general is an unreactive material and isn’t harmful to the environment, however Boron Carbide powder is known to be irritate the human skin and eyes. Boron Carbide powder is non-lethal to humans and can be easily treated if irritation occurs such as flushing the eyes and washing the skin with soap and water. Boron Carbide is odourless and insoluble in water so if exposed to the environment it will not cause an unpleasant smell and will not mix in water so can be easily filtered out.

Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.

Get custom essay

Sustainability: Boron Carbide is made out of the elements Carbon and Boron, both of which are readily available materials, so creating Boron Carbide does not pose a risk to the depletion of the Carbon and Boron. As discussed previously Boron Carbide is an extremely hard and wear resistant material which means that it has a high resistance to wearing down or breaking and therefore has the property of being very sustainable as it would take a great amount of stress and energy to cause the material to become unstable. Increasing the concentration of B10 in Boron Carbide can improve the control efficiency of the Boron material. Material efficiency is trying to minimize the amount of raw materials used and select raw materials that are the most economical, as well as maximise the lifetime of the material. Material efficiency is important because it ensures that natural resources aren’t depleted and ensures the product being made from the raw materials is sustainable.


READ MORE >>

An ideal partner can come in all shapes and sizes. We all look for something dif ...

An ideal partner can come in all shapes and sizes. We all look for something different and we’re all willing to deal with different things in relationships.

Get original essay

If you’d have asked me what I thought an idealpartner would look like years ago, it would have been someone who lets me get on with my own stuff and supports me. It would have been someone I could have fun with and someone who had a good relationship with my family.

Me and Sean broke up last year for a few months. Was that because there was a lack of support? No, but when your relationship starts to break down, it makes sense that you stop bringing positive aspects (such as support) into your relationship.

I started my first business when I was 15 and by the time I realised it was a viable money maker, I had people discouraging me and over the last few years I have had different men (partners and strangers) discouraging me from pursuing my goal of working for myself.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to have it all. I refuse to choose between a career and family. Why can’t I have both? The thing that’s always got to me however is how men look for a strong independent woman until it means she doesn’t rely on him. Once they know she isn’t dependant on them, they turn and sometimes it’s in a very toxic way which is not okay. Society still tells us that men have to be bread winners and provide for their families. In what world is that set in stone?

One thing I appreciated about Sean from the time we started dating was just how supportive he is and has been of my dreams. Granted, he doesn’t have a business mind and has no interest in blogging so there are things he simply doesn’t get but never once as he used that to belittle my vision.

The longer we’ve been together and the more we’ve gone through life, the more I’ve realised that to me, a supportive partner is someone who doesn’t live by the construct of gender stereotypes because for me, that’s where half the problems come. Between me being a woman, an African woman and an African woman who grew up in western culture, my cultures have a lot of clashes when you put them side by side. In African culture, you normally don’t live with a partner until you’re married, they don’t meet your parents until you’re engaged (I have a blog here on how to introduce your non-black boyfriend to African parents) and when you finally do live together, the mans focus is normally on his work whilst the woman has to work, have kids whom she needs to look after and she has to keep the house looking perfect. That’s not me…

I have a lot of respect for my culture and my parents but ultimately, I believe the final say is mine because there aren’t many women around me in my position that want a life the way I do. For me to have the freedom to choose when and where to work, to have the freedom to choose when we have kids and be comfortable enough to know that I can provide for my family whilst having a spotless house (one day) means doing things differently to most women. To find a man that is genuinely comfortable in one day not being the breadwinner is actually quite the novelty.

So, what does a supportive partner look like to me now? It is still someone comfortable enough in them self to let me do me. It’s being with someone strong enough to tell me when I’m wrong because he knows I’m stubborn. It’s being with someone who appreciates and respects my culture, my family and my goals but this year especially, it is has been someone to help pick me up when I’m at my lowest mentally, someone who hears (not just listens) me and someone who reciprocates the energy I give them. A supportive partner is someone who understands that we come from two different families with two different sets of norms and rules but knowing that we can mix the best of both to create a happy, fun and fulfilling life together.

I’m not saying Sean is some amazing new-age man who gets it all because he isn’t. Getting him to clean is a pain, he’s crap with money management, he’s not always great at expressing his feelings and he can never find his own stuff. He’s an actual melter but he’s a melter with a heart of gold and someone I know I could say absolutely anything to without being judged.

It would be silly of me to live my life thinking we could both do whatever we wanted whenever we wanted because that’s not how a relationship works but one thing I’ve learned is that no matter how different you are as people or how different your goals and dreams, you have to work together and push each other. This time last year we weren’t together and now we’re happier than we’ve ever been after a very tough year for both of us personally.

Don’t lose your values and don’t settle for crap because when you’re on the same page, you can work with your partner to achieving anything. That for me may only be Sean cooking and posting my desserts whilst I get on with other work, but it allows me to focus on other things which I appreciate more than I could ever express so I repay that with making sure he knows I always have his back.

What does an ideal partner look like to you?

Evolutionary Psychology and Mate Preference

Dating, the search of a significant other is an undoubtedly major part of almost everyone’s life. Since everyone has different tastes and preferences, they tend to look for different personal qualities in a partner. But what lead people to prefer some traits over the others? Evolutionary psychologists argue that humans have evolved to place value on certain traits because of their benefits to procreation and protection. There are many examples for such attributes. However, since I can’t speak for everyone, I will define my own ideal partner and how his personal attributes may be connected to culture or evolution.

The first thing I look in a potential dating partner is honesty. Any successful relationship must be based on good communication and mutual trust. Since that cannot happen if one person lies or tends to “omit the truth”, a partner who is not honest is not something I would consider.

A second extremely important quality is maturity. If I am looking for a serious, long-term relationship and the person I’m considering starting it with is immature, does not know how to deal with people in a professional manner and has not accepted the fact that he has to take responsibility for his actions, I will definitely not take him seriously and start a relationship with him.

Another attribute an ideal dating partner should have is ambition. If a person does not have goals that he wants to reach or any dreams that he wants to pursue, it means that he is not going to further his life and is stuck in a dead end. Ambition is what helps a person grow and improve, while standing in one place in life leads to dissatisfaction and depression. Also, since I am very ambitious myself, a partner that is content with what he has might hold me back. That’s why this quality is extremely important to me.

It would be hypocritical to deny that good looks play an important part in the start of any relationship. That’s the attribute that draws a person in and makes everything possible in the first place. Being pretty or handsome also helps you advance in life, which ties in well with the above discussed ambition. That’s why my ideal partner should be good looking and take care of himself.

The final quality that is necessary for a perfect relationship is loyalty. It’s connected to honesty, since they can’t exist without each other. Loyalty means staying true to your partner in all ways imaginable. There is nothing I can’t stand more than cheating, doing that would damage the relationship in a critical way and there would be no repairing it. That’s why loyalty is of the upmost importance to me.

But all these attributes may seem completely incomprehensible for someone brought up in a different culture. For example, a man who has lived with numerous wives all his life and was brought up to think that women are only here to please men may laugh at the notion of honesty and ambition being qualities that a woman should have. Other cultures may not place such value on loyalty. It’s no secret that a person’s values depend on the way they were raised, and culture plays a large role in their upbringing. That is also why I think that a lot of my peers would mention the same qualities, maybe excluding good looks, as they were thought that “it’s what’s on the inside that counts”. But these are definitely common attributes that a lot of North Americans and Europeans look for in their partners.

Finally, let’s look at this from an evolutionary perspective. Loyalty, honesty and maturity are qualities that did not have much value until humans began forming advanced societies. But good looks, for example, always played an important part in choosing a partner. Big breasts and wide hips were always seen as desirable as they made childbearing and birth easier and usually meant a healthy offspring. Slender bodies meant they were healthy and thus were preferable to fat ones. The other quality that might have served an evolutionary purpose is ambition. People who wanted to do well, to reach something usually achieved more than their peers. For example, they killed more birds, they caught more fish, they learned new skills, they wanted to explore more. While that may have gotten them killed sometimes, the ambitious people urged humanity forward and maybe that’s why people nowadays value that trait.

Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.

Get custom essay

To sum up, some of these attributes might have served an evolutionary purpose, others may have not. What we look for in an ideal partner depends on our upbringing and our culture. That’s people value different things and why everyone has a chance at finding an ideal partner.

Works Cited

  1. Jones, D., & Fletcher, G. J. (2017). Ideal Partner Preferences: What Do We Know? The Journal of Sex Research, 54(5), 594-606. doi:10.1080/00224499.2016.1235744
  2. Buss, D. M. (2016). The evolution of desire: Strategies of human mating. Basic Books.
  3. Conroy-Beam, D., & Buss, D. M. (2019). The evolution of romantic desire: Cheating, jealousy, and mate preferences. In M. L. Fisher, & J. A. Garcia (Eds.), Evolution's Empress: Darwinian Perspectives on the Nature of Women (pp. 215-236). Oxford University Press.
  4. Campbell, A. (2008). The evolutionary psychology of women's aggression. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 13(5), 313-322. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2008.05.001
  5. Fletcher, G. J., Simpson, J. A., & Thomas, G. (2000). Ideals in intimate relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79(4), 685-699. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.79.4.685
  6. Kenrick, D. T., Griskevicius, V., Neuberg, S. L., & Schaller, M. (2010). Renovating the pyramid of needs: Contemporary extensions built upon ancient foundations. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 5(3), 292-314. doi:10.1177/1745691610369469
  7. Li, N. P., Bailey, J. M., Kenrick, D. T., & Linsenmeier, J. A. (2002). The necessities and luxuries of mate preferences: Testing the tradeoffs. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(6), 947-955. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.82.6.947
  8. Buss, D. M., & Schmitt, D. P. (2019). Mate preferences and their behavioral manifestations. Annual Review of Psychology, 70, 77-110. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010418-102739
  9. Eastwick, P. W., & Hunt, L. L. (2014). Relational mate value: Consensus and uniqueness in romantic evaluations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 106(5), 728-751. doi:10.1037/a0036093
  10. Shackelford, T. K., & Hansen, R. D. (2016). The evolution of jealousy: A response to Buller. Emotion Review, 8(3), 256-257. doi:10.1177/1754073915590288

READ MORE >>

In Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon, flying appears as a symbol of freedom, mos ...

In Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon, flying appears as a symbol of freedom, most notably in the African legend of Solomon, who released his son Jake to fall to the evils of American slavery while he flew away to freedom. Even though the story takes place in the post-slavery era, virtually none of the characters are able to liberate themselves and take flight. The pursuit of the hopeful ideals that developed during the Civil Rights Movement seems to almost hold down the black characters as much as slavery did. They pine endlessly over revenge, personal growth, wealth, education, and love. As the characters begin to gain wealth and power, some turn into greedy machines, living only to turn their labor into money and property. They win freedom from slavery, and alongside that, they also gain what has burdened the affluent population forever: money. While the American Dream results in the pursuit of a happy family, a house, and a good job; many of the black characters pursue a slightly different “African-American Dream” that entails freedom and power. Many become so engrossed in their wealth that they estrange family, friends, and lovers. Though money seemingly offers freedom in American culture, Morrison reveals the negative effects of the African-American Dream through Macon Jr., who displays how material goods rapidly become burdensome as he begins to value wealth more than his family or his people; as different as Guitar seems, he also succumbs to this obsession and forgets his core values. Milkman, however, at first experiments with his father’s path, but he eventually realizes that true liberation can be reached only by rejecting materialism in favor of freedom and following in Pilate’s footsteps.

Get original essay

Although Macon Dead Jr. is one of the wealthiest black people in his town, he becomes dominated by his quest to gain more wealth, regularly rejecting basic morals and losing sight of the value of relationships and human lives. As a teenager, Macon kills an old man out of fear, but quickly forgets his crime when he discovers that the man was hiding three sacks of gold, dreaming of “Life, safety, and luxury fanned out before him like the spread of a peacock” (170). This vision of a possible future overwhelms him, causing him to completely dismiss the fact that he just slaughtered a stranger. This culture of materialism in America often blinds people to anything but money, including the loss of a human life. Pilate tries to persuade him to leave the gold behind by cautioning him against stealing, however, Macon just responds, “This ain’t money; it’s gold. It’ll keep us for life, Pilate. We can get us another farm” (171). Although Macon is so young in this scene, he is already becoming enchanted by the allure of gold, regardless of possible consequences, such as guilt or arrest. He believes that gold can keep him “for life,” even though he could spend that life in prison. The two get into a physical fight over this decision, resulting in the dismantling of their relationship as siblings. When Macon Jr. later discovers that Milkman has been visiting Pilate, he tells him, “Pilate can’t teach you a thing you can use in this world[...]Own things. And let the things you own own other things. Then you own yourself and other people too (55). Macon’s first advice to his only son, Milkman, is about money and property. He summarizes his materialism in these few sentences, announcing his warped beliefs that only “things you own” can be of any use in life. Macon Jr. also tries to manipulate his teenage son into stealing from family and solving one of his childhood adversities by stealing the gold. Macon also often decides that money is worth more than human lives in his workplace.When an old woman begs for an extension on her rent so she can feed her children, Macon answers, “Can they make it in the street, Mrs. Bains? That’s where they’re gonna be if you don’t figure out some way to get me my money” (21). Although Macon does not need the four dollars and no benefit will come out of putting Mrs. Bains and her family out of home, his vision of more wealth turns him callous and selfish. His greatest goal in life is to expand his wealth, causing him to become emotionally “Dead” with regards to relationships with his family, friends, and community.

Like Macon Jr., Guitar becomes obsessed with the idea of more gold and, to fulfill his intentions, he becomes violent, mistrustful, and amoral. Guitar has delusions about what his life might be like after he and Milkman steal the sacks of gold: “What he would buy for his grandmother and her brother, Uncle Billy[...] the marker he would buy for his father’s grave, ‘pink with lilies carved on it’; then stuff for his brother and sisters, and his sisters’ children” (179). Guitar has barely even begun to formulate a plan to steal the gold and is already enraptured by what he could afford with it. Like Macon, he becomes blind to the crime he is committing to acquire the gold. He violates human values as well when he tells Milkman to steal from his aunt, even admitting how crazy he is becoming: “You can’t get no pot of gold being reasonable. Can’t nobody get no gold being reasonable. You have to be unreasonable” (183). By acknowledging that no “reasonable” person can become rich, Guitar justifies how he acts about the gold and rejects his core morals just like Macon Jr. did over the same sacks of gold. The apparent association between wealth and power corrupts his thoughts and actions. Later, Guitar tries to murder Milkman by wrapping a wire around his neck while he rests. When Milkman confronts Guitar and asks why he did this, Guitar simply replies, “You took the gold [...] I saw you, motherfucker” (295). Guitar has become so paranoid about the gold that he believes that his best friend stole from him and his cause, and is now lying about it. Their long-lasting friendship has lost all value to Guitar after his visions of a wealthier and more meaningful life transformed him. After stalking Milkman and seeing him helping an old man lift a crate, Guitar cannot believe that Milkman would help someone out of the kindness of his heart and convinces himself the crate is full of stolen gold. Guitar’s visions of a better life derail his rationality and destroy his relationships, causing him to attempt to kill Milkman because Guitar believe that Milkman is preventing him from accumulating money.

Toward the beginning of the novel, Milkman emulates his father’s selfish persona, however, he ultimately realizes that liberation is not an outcome of excessive wealth but of freeing himself from material desire. When Guitar begins to talk about racial issues in America, Milkman thinks to himself, “His life was pointless, aimless, and it was true that he didn’t concern himself an awful lot about other people. There was nothing he wanted bad enough to risk anything for, inconvenience himself for” (107). Although Milkman is black and racial problems should be relevant to him, all he can think about is himself and how he can live the easiest life possible. After his father tells him he needs to own things and gives him a job in his rent-collecting office, fourteen year old Milkman believes, “Life improved for Milkman enormously after he began working for Macon” (56). He believes his father’s advice to him and he begins to start his journey towards owning things. Milkman thinks living like his father is much more beneficial than living like Pilate, so he continues working a boring job to make money. However, when Milkman is slightly older and plotting to steal gold with Guitar, he finds himself thinking of a different kind of gratification: “Because his life was not unpleasant and even had a certain amount of luxury in addition to its comfort, he felt off center. He just wanted to beat a path away from his parents’ past, which is also their present and was threatening to become his present as well” (180). Milkman begins to pull himself away from the hypnotic nature of gold that his family and Guitar fell for, realizing that he has enough indulgence in his life and instead seeks liberation from a life like his parents’: unpleasant, mediocre, and insatiable. He realizes that property is not the key to power and the Dream blinds people to what is truly important. Milkman finally understands that liberation from a boring, but wealthy, life like his father’s can come by freeing himself from materialism.

As one of the only characters not limited by materialism, Pilate evades many of the hardships the others face by deciding to liberate herself of desire and want. Her salvation comes when she decides to start her life over and tackles “the problem of trying to decide how she wanted to live and what was valuable to her” (149). Pilate begins to free herself when she decides to change her way of life; she goes from allowing herself to be grounded by the isolation she faces because of her lack of a navel to rethinking what truly matters in her life. She creates a goal much greater than Macon and Guitar’s wishes of accumulation: gratification. She then asks herself “What do I need to stay alive? What is true in the world?” and gives up “all interest in table manners or hygiene, but acquired a deep concern for and about human relationships (149). By starting at square one, Pilate realizes that to be free, she needs to have a “deep concern for and about human relationships” and care about others, rather than just herself and money. Pilate does not allow herself to be roped in by the alluring visions of freedom and property and avoids the suffering that many characters face because of their materialism. Pilate also chooses winemaking to make a living because it “allowed her more freedom hour by hour and day by day than any other work a woman of no means whatsoever and no inclination to make love for money could choose” (150). Although her work is hardly extraordinary, Pilate manages to make enough money to get by and keep her dignity. This job also allows her to have freedom in her schedule and to buy what she needs, not what she wants on a whim. When Milkman first meets her, he notes that, “while she looked as poor as everyone said she was, something was missing from her eyes that should have confirmed it. Nor was she dirty; unkempt, yes, but not dirty” (39). To Milkman, the “something” that was missing is probably a look of unhappiness that he associates with poverty. Although other characters assume Pilate must be struggling and wasting her time winemaking, she is the opposite: she never becomes rich through her work, but she is much happier and freer because of her lack of burdening wealth.

Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.

Get custom essay

Throughout Song of Solomon, wealth is oftentimes associated with happiness and gratification while poverty is associated with misery and desolation. However, Morrison demonstrates that materialism has adverse effects on anyone cursed with it: Macon Jr. destroys his relationships, Guitar goes insane and tries to kill Milkman, and, early in his life, Milkman is selfish and withdrawn from his world. Though the African-American dream seems slightly different than the American Dream in this era, Morrison shows the holes in both: that the value of wealth often trumps the value of a human life. Eventually, Milkman escapes the obsession that has consumed so many people in his world and mimics Pilate’s lifestyle. Although Pilate is one of the poorest characters in the novel, she is the only one that has the ability to literally fly until Milkman is able to deliver himself from the burden of materialism and soars. Milkman tears himself from his past, gaining control of his life while learning that property and money do not create power or independence; he must decide to liberate himself from the materialism that consumes the world around him to fly.


READ MORE >>

Material culture entails the physical aspect that represents culture in terms of ...

Material culture entails the physical aspect that represents culture in terms of architecture and objects surrounding people. It includes aspects such as creation, consumption, usage, and trade of objects as well as the norms, ritual, and behaviors created by this materials. It mainly focuses on material evidence which contributes to culture, in present, and in the past. Material culture explains a relationship that exists between people of a given society and the things they possess or access to. This include; the making, reservations, history and objects interpretations (Tilley, 2012.P116-126).

Get original essay

This, therefore, means that materiality is an element of culture that cannot be separated or forgone. Additionally, materiality integrates humanities and social sciences such as archeology, art history, historic preservation and literary criticism. Basically, anything from architectural elements and buildings to jewelry, toothbrushes, and books are best considered as material culture. Materiality has in a great way tried to explain the evolution of different cultures and how people have evolved from the traditional way of doing things to the current way of doing things. This in my own view is the reason as to why materiality cannot be separated from culture as it forms a core aspect.

Materiality according to research is the origin of culture as it evaluates how our forefathers used to do their things and how the current generation does and perceives things. Researchers in various fields of anthropology have perceived objects to have different meaning based on different cultures. The basic reason for evaluating and valuing material is based on the monetary and sentimental value. This means that materiality aspect in culture have been used mostly in trade and business where people evaluate the worth of a commodity by evaluating its value. According to Kahneman, it is impossible to separate culture from materiality since it one of the core elements of culture that have been in existence for many decades and is still in use to determine the culture of different people.

Materiality evaluates and explores cultural dimension in terms of global connectivity, globalization and focuses on the mobility of material culture (Cooper, 2013. P1002). Furthermore, materiality in culture tends to evaluate how the meaning of styles, objects as well as aesthetics have changed over time. For example, in the past, people from different cultures have used diverse types of toothbrush such as salt and sticks obtained from particular trees but in the current society, this has been replaced by a plastic form of the toothbrush which is more reliable and more effective. This is an indication of how materiality aspect of culture has enables researchers to determine how changes have taken place over the past years.

Additionally, “materiality also seeks to address the global issue on how these collections help raise, such as the role they play within contemporary debates on citizenship and belonging. For example, people are interested in the role that these material objects can play for groups who feel a sense of place within multiple societies” (Stocking, 2013, P120-122). Museums also play a key role in materiality as it gives clear evidence of how different societies have embraced different cultures. Materiality has also played a key role in shaping human experience. Materiality as an element of culture has also facilitated communication between people as other forms of communication such as gestures, speech, and touch. Materials in culture such as artifacts contain memories and experiences over time which can be shared across various generations. Material culture also shows how culture has evolved in different societies. Language has also developed over time from simple objects to more advanced objects. Gift giving and appreciation has also been identified as an aspect of cultural materiality as it’s a universal phenomenon which portrays an emotional meaning. Culture in itself has been regarded as symbols, beliefs, artifacts, and values that define a group of people. These elements are all represented in materiality and hence this makes it impossible to separate materiality as an element of culture.

Material culture also helps in understanding the way of life of people in the society as it provides evidence of how they have evolved in terms of equipment’s they used, the tools as well as the way of life. For example, artifacts and archeological evidence that has been found by researchers indicate that the early man used coins as a medium of exchange. This, however, has improved where man has adapted a new way of exchange such as money and use of paper currency. Material culture repositories and museums are by nature “are active contributors and participants in the heritage industry” (Gould, 2014P.889-989). This means that the industry of heritage depends heavily on objects and material culture to interpret more about cultural heritage. Therefore there is the need to conserve material culture since it motivates people to visit historical sites, museums and other collections so as to interact with physical objects and ideas that are of the past. Additionally, “social relations are embodied in materiality”. A material cannot valid if a meaning is not associated with it.

Generally, commodities, gifts, and money play a key role in producing cultural meanings as well as meditating for social relations in several ways. The art of giving gifts has been in existence for ages and it differs in meaning between different cultures. To some cultures, gifts are an expression of gratitude or appreciation while to some culture, gift giving is seen as a form of cultural etiquette. Basically, the culture of giving has a different meaning based on the understanding of the different group of people. For example, people who have grown up in Chinese and western cultures perceive gifts as either a curse or a blessing from someone. Additionally, to some cultures, gift giving have been used as a way of creating a good relationship between different communities that have been rivals or connecting people who may be having a misunderstanding for a period of time.

Furthermore, the culture of giving has been used to symbolize peace where people give their surplus. Gift giving is also symbolized unity and love according to different cultures when a person gives a gift in terms of money, food or commodities to those who do not have. This is a symbol of sharing with those who are not able to provide for their basic needs and the poor. The art of giving has also been a way of clearing misunderstanding between different cultures when the presentation of gifts is seen as a way of seeking for forgiveness.

To some cultures, gifts are given on occasions such as weddings, Christmas, new year and baby delivery to portray a meaning of togetherness and appreciation. Often, when a person travels to another country or a place where one is expected to stay for some time, it is an expectation that when returning back, he/she will come with gifts for those who were left behind. This means that gift giving has been recognized by almost every culture as important and a good way of appreciating people. To some cultures, the art of giving has been seen as a tradition that should be observed and hence people like the Chinese are obligated to sending gifts during special occasions such as Christmas as part of their tradition. Therefore, to them, gift giving is more of a cultural etiquette and more of an obligation.

In some cultures, it is a taboo or a bad thing to reject gifts that are offered by someone. For example, in some cultures such as that of Africans and Chinese, when one is given a gift, it is expected of him to first reject the gift “with an expression that the gift giver is far too kind”, however after minutes of “shoving and pushing”, one can then receive the gift. Giving to some cultures has been a way of creating strong social relationship since it is an indication of love and care towards others. According to Gregory, a gift to an enemy or a potential friend helps to establish a relationship. Gifts according to some cultures is also an indication of respect to others hence it's used to convey a particular message among different people and different cultures (Vilaça,2014 PS322-S332).

In the current society, gift giving has been used as a way of enhancing relationships between two or more governments and end tribal disputes between communities and states. Generally, cultural meanings are delivered from these aspects such as money giving as a form of a gift and giving of commodities. Money has been used by different cultures as a medium of exchange and also a way to show gratitude to others and rewarding a person or doing well. In the current society, people have adopted the ideology of giving money and other valuable commodities as gifts or as most cultures regard it as “token of appreciation for good deeds” The desire for commodities have also contributed to neglect by some people of their cultures. This means that some people have opted to neglect their cultures so as to acquire wealth and other self-accomplishment. This, therefore, has resulted in them facing some consequences as different cultures dictate. For example in my society and the culture that I have been brought up in, obtaining commodities of money through unlawful ways such as stealing has negative implications which must accompany a person who goes contrary to the set rules. This is an indication that different cultures have varying rules that govern the aspect of gift giving, holding money as well as other commodities.

Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.

Get custom essay

Cultural meanings have also been derived from use of currency or money which have replaced the traditional form of barter trade. Gifts on the other side have been used to mark occasions that have been regarded as important in different cultures. For example, in work places, gift giving is an act of motivating employees to perform better and to promote the image of the organization. Gift giving culture in different societies has therefore been used to enhance strong social relations among people in a given family, community or in the work place. Money, on the other hand, has portrayed the aspect of unity due to use of the same currency for a given country and hence preserving different cultures. However, different cultures have a different understanding of money and vary in terms of the functions (Hodder, 2013P 104-128).


READ MORE >>

Table of contentsSociety and Wealth in the 1920sTypes of Social ClassesExamples ...

Table of contents

  1. Society and Wealth in the 1920s
  2. Types of Social Classes
  3. Examples in The Great Gatsby

The United States of America is often referred to as the land of endless possibilities, where everyone can achieve everything. The belief in the so-called American Dream, which gives the people a sense of hope that includes the opportunity for economic prosperity and success, was and is still present. “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, as also stated in the Declaration of Independence, are the main tenets of the American Dream.

Get original essay

However, for many people, this pursuit of happiness can only be reached through prosperity. This materialistic attitude can also be seen in The Great Gatsby, which was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925. In this novel, the characters are steadily “progressing … towards the achievement of the American Dream”. However, “this journey towards the attainable yet unattainable is full of practical challenges”. The following term paper will analyse to what extent the characters in The Great Gatsby are corrupted by this materialistic attitude and society.

It will show that living in a society which is primarily dominated by this attitude and idea of wealth providing exclusiveness generally results in corruption and moral decay. Also, it will discuss how the novel, in its critique of materialism, reflects and comments on social and cultural discourses of the 1920s concerning wealth, happiness and moral corruption. To allude to this topic, I will first give a short overview of the society and the role of wealth in the United States in the late 1920s. Secondly, the different types of social classes will be named and characterized. In the analysis, I will have a look at selected characters from the novel, namely Daisy Buchanan, Jay Gatsby and Myrtle Wilson, for the purpose of showing that materialism affects their lives in a very negative way. Even though Nick Carraway is a first-person narrator without being the protagonist, which makes him an unreliable narrator to some extent, I decided to still use his descriptions for my analysis. A closing conclusion will end this term paper.

Society and Wealth in the 1920s

The novel is set in the 1920s, a time in which people led “destructive lifestyles, drinking excessively”, as Currell describes it in her book American Culture in the 1920s. Society was about the change due to several reasons in this decade. In the north of the country, the economy was booming and industrial companies were expanding more and more. This time is often referred to as the “Jazz Age” or the “Roaring Twenties.” The United States slowly evolved into a global leader, in terms of politics, economy, and culture.

An explosive augmentation of the circulation of money was the result of the economic boom and the increasing interest in gambling on the stock exchange. For the first time in history, even the average citizen was interested in the stock exchange and started to gamble on it. The “society played fast and loose with its money”, as Streissguth conveniently depicts it. What is interesting is the reason why people were interested in the stock exchange. The average worker tried to gain wealth through stocks or bond issues, while the already rich people tried to increase their wealth. Another change in the society of that time is urbanisation.

People started to leave their rural homes and moved to urban areas. This can also be seen in the novel, in which Gatsby moves from his home in North Dakota to West Egg. During this process, new cities and urban areas arose. “By the census of 1920, the United States was for the first time an urban society”.

Types of Social Classes

All these events and changes, mostly the rising increase in the flux of money, led to a constantly increasing separation of society. By the end of the 1920s, three types of social classes can be grouped. These groups were the “Old Money”, the “New Money”, and the so-called “No Money”.

The first group is the so-called “Old Money”. Old Money refers to families that have had possession of a certain amount of property or wealth since the 19th century, this also means they have established influential social connections. Their property is passed on through heritage generation by generation. Old Money families consider themselves as the dominant class and describe other classes as primitive. This is also a reason why they do not accept new people in their ranks, so one could say that there is a sense of coarseness to the rest of the world. Looking at this class, they are mostly described as rather conservative and more educated than the other classes.

In comparison to others, they are very responsible with their wealth and they know how to deal well with their money. In the novel, two representatives of this class are Daisy and Tom Buchanan. Their selfish and callous personality perfectly fits the description of this class. Also, their way of treating other people is characteristic of this class. One example of this is how Tom treats George Wilson throughout the novel.

The second group is the so-called “New Money”. People of this group have attained their wealth in the economic boom of the 1920s and are the first generation of their family to obtain wealth. They can be seen as some kind of new heroes in society, as Batchelor confirms by saying that “[m]oney stood at the centre of American culture in the 1920’s, and the era’s brokers and investment bankers reigned as society’s new heroes”. Because they did not grow up being wealthy, they tend to be more lavish with their money.

In comparison to the Old Money, these people barely have any social connections and are often described as less educated and less elegant. In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is one representative of this class. His unstinting, to some extent even wasteful character perfectly fits the description of this class. He, unlike Tom Buchanan, wants to meet new people and wants to be surrounded by them. However, one could argue that he tries to counterbalance his lacking social contacts through his extravagant parties. Also important is the spatial separation of the classes. Old Money people live in East Egg, while the New Money people live in West Egg. This separation through a bay also represents the division of classes during that time.

The third group is the so-called “No Money”. People belonging to this group have, as the name already suggests, no property or wealth. Most people desperately try to do anything to climb up the ladder of success and to be part of that uprising new class. They are willing to do anything to achieve their goals without realizing that they will never be able to leave this class, as the other classes will not accept them. In the novel, two examples of this group are Myrtle and George Wilson.

They are not really described in detail, which gives the reader the sense that they are easily overlooked or ignored. This can be seen as a form of critique because, as in real life, the No Money people are overlooked, and everyone is just interested in the people above them, living a desirable life. The only thing they share with Gatsby, for example, is the fact that they will both never be accepted by the class above them. Gatsby, as a part of New Money, will never be accepted by the Old Money and Myrtle and George will never be accepted by the New Money because they do not own any wealth.

Examples in The Great Gatsby

The first character, which will be analysed, is Daisy Buchanan. Looking at the types of social class from chapter three, Daisy definitely belongs to the class of Old Money. Born in a noble Confederate family, she is described as a wealthy attractive upper-class woman who was adored by many young men. However, when having a closer look, it becomes clear that she is corrupted by this materialistic worldview. One example of this corruption is the birth of her daughter. “I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool – that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world” are Daisy’s own words. In her opinion, her daughter can only be successful in this world when she is pretty and foolish. Daisy herself has no income, like most Old Money people, because she was born rich and never had to work.

Even though Daisy describes herself as “pretty cynical about everything”, I would disagree with this to some extent because she is more sensitive and romantic than described. This can be seen in the fact that she did not want to marry Tom, as she was waiting for Gatsby, and the only reason she married Tom was not love but rather to maintain her status in the upper class. In contrast to her image, Daisy is not naïve at all, but rather uses her chances smartly. However, Daisy ends up being an egoistic and hurtful woman, which is reflected more and more as Nick gets to know her. Her real character can be seen in two of her actions.

After she hits Myrtle with the car she just leaves the scene. The reader can interpret this as a perfect representation of her character because for her Myrtle, who, to Daisy, is just a part of the lower class, is not worthy of her care and attention. The other action is that she just plays with Gatsby because she is interested in his wealth throughout the novel. This becomes clear after Gatsby’s death because Tom and Daisy move to another city and she ends up with someone she does not really love but helps her to maintain her status.

The next character being analysed is Jay Gatsby. He is part of the New Money class because he is the son of a poor family in North Dakota but worked his way up to wealth. One could argue that Gatsby can be seen as a symbol of the American Dream, as he is the poor boy who worked hard to achieve his dreams and becomes rich. However, he did not earn his money through honest work but rather through a criminal career. This is already one hint that Gatsby is corrupted by this idea that wealth is a desirable aim.

Another argument which displays this fact is his lifestyle and especially his parties. His lifestyle is extravagant and some may even call it excessive. He drives a Rolls-Royce, owns a huge mansion and celebrates parties and is doing all for acceptance into society. Schiff points out that “while the old money members of society remain caught up in underlying grief for their decline in society, those who are … outsiders, such as Gatsby, struggle to receive acceptance”. Of course, one could say that he throws his parties to impress Daisy and to get her back, but this was not very successful as she does not turn up to most of the parties and he needs Nick to get her to one of them. In the novel, there is one scene in chapter V, which specifically underlines his corruption.

When Nick suggests that he could invite Daisy, Gatsby wants to reward him. This shows the reader that Gatsby, working his way up, does not know what a favour is because he says “it wouldn’t take up much of your time and you might pick up some nice bit of money”. In the same scene, Gatsby seems to have no patience because while waiting for Daisy Nick states that “he looked at his watch as if there was some pressing demand on his time elsewhere”. Gatsby believes that time is money and does not want to lose time. Also, the fact that he is emphasizing that everything has to look perfect also displays his need control and his obsessive behavior.

The last character which will be analysed, is Myrtle Wilson. She belongs to the No Money group because she is a working-class woman not being wealthy. We do not know much about her when we get to know her; only the fact that she is married miserably to George Wilson. She despises her husband because he has come to nothing yet, which underlines her materialistic worldview. The quote “I knew right away I made a mistake. He borrowed somebody’s best suit to get married in” shows, that her husband not being able to buy a new suit bothers her, as he is not able to provide her with the lifestyle she desires.

In the novel, a comparison between Myrtle and Daisy perfectly displays the division of classes. Myrtle, being described as earthly sexual, stands in strong contrast to Daisy, who is said to have an angelic ambiguous charm. Also, the way both characters are dressed points out the difference. While Daisy is dressed in pure white, Myrtle’s dress is spotted and dark blue. Even the names themselves highlight this division. Whereas both women got their names from flowers, Daisy got her name from a white delicate flower while Myrtle got it from a common shrub. All these facts clearly show that an upper-class woman was seen as more beautiful and more important, as Daisy is described with all positive attributes. Just as with the other characters mentioned before, Myrtle’s attitude and desire for wealth corrupts her, even resulting in her death.

While she desperately desires a luxurious life, she tries to build up wealth. “The panoply of consumer items Myrtle gathers around her to convince herself she leads a glamourous and exciting life” shows this quite well. To change her class, she tries to enter a relationship with Tom Buchanan. She hopes that he can help her to reach her desired wealth. Her wish corrupts her in such a way that she does not even realize that he is just playing with her. In the end, it is this love that kills Myrtle, as she gets hit by a car while running on the street because she thinks that she sees Tom coming for her.

As shown in this paper, The Great Gatsby, which is “one of the few works of literature that nearly everyone is at least acquainted with in text or film form” shows the division of social classes that arose in the 1920s. The novel depicts the different classes and their characteristics quite well. It shows the competition between Old and New Money as they both will never accept each other because they are born into different worlds. The fact that we do not know much about George Wilson or other No Money people shows that lower class people were easily ignored or disappeared in society.

Nevertheless, one has to keep in mind that Nick, as a narrator, is unreliable and that the way he frames the story was not analysed or considered in the analysis. He himself states in the novel that we cannot determine the events happening, but we can determine the report of them. He also says that he does not want to judge people while reporting his facts. If you take that into account, it could be interesting for further works to analyse how Nick’s way of telling the story influences the way we receive it. Finally, I would like to depict that this portrait of a spoiled, superficial society perfectly fits our modern society.

Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.

Get custom essay

Even though the novel was written and published in the 1920s, I would argue that the situation is pretty much the same today, as people still aim for wealth and think that luxury is a desirable aim. So, one lesson we can learn from The Great Gatsby is: “Wealth fills our bellies, but leaves us spiritually hungry”.


READ MORE >>
WhatsApp