Conflict in Short Story Essay Example for Free

Conflict in Short Story Essay Essay on the Conflict Presented in William Faulkner’s Short Story, â€Å"Barn Burning† Conflict in literary works can be presented in a multitude of ways and it can be about almost everything that presents opposing forces. In William Faulkner’s short story, Barn Burning, the conflict is indeed about two opposing forces—that of the father and the son who values different things and who sees things differently. However, this is not the only conflict that the story illustrates. More than the physical conflict which the father and the son so obviously have, there is a hidden conflict present which is within the son. This conflict is the battle between what is right as defined by the law which the son upholds versus what is correct as defined by familial loyalty. The story revolves around the case of the father, Mr. Snopes who is accused of burning the barn of Mr. Harris. Though the case is dismissed, the Snopes name is forever tainted and the family decides to leave town and relocate. In the beginning of the story itself, Colonel Sartoris Snopes, the little boy protagonist and youngest son of Mr. Snopes is in turmoil since he knows that his father did indeed order that the barn of Mr. Harris be burned. Readers are able to see the conflict within the character of Sartoris who wants to say the truth but who wants to be loyal to his father, a father who nurtured, sheltered, fed and protected him. Sartoris decides that he will be loyal to his father even to the point of regarding Mr. Harris as their common enemy: â€Å"our enemy he thought in that despair; ourn! Mine and hisn both! He’s my father! † (Faulkner, 1939, p. 1137). This parade of thoughts that Sartoris conjures up in his mind is the beginning of the battle of his conscience of whether he wants to abide by the loyalty that he owes his father and family or abide by societal laws. These thoughts are actually also a reflection of Sartoris convincing himself that he must at all cost, abide by familial loyalty. The same strain of thought pops again when the judge in charge of the case calls on Sartoris to testify whether his father really had a hand in the burning of the barn: â€Å"He aims for me to lie, he thought, again with that frantic grief and despair. And I will have to do it. † (Faulkner, 1939, 1138). Sartoris knows that his father is guilty and yet he also knows that he must lie to protect his father and the reputation of the rest of the family members, that he has no choice. Later on when the family leaves town to relocate, the father calls the son to ask him whether he would tell the judge the truth. This moment is where the father explains to the son what to do and what the importance of familial piety and loyalty is: â€Å"You got to learn to stick to your own blood or you ain’t going to have any blood to stick to you† (Faulkner, 1939, p. 1140). This explanation of the father sums up the conflict that they have with each other: the father thinks that even if a family member is wrong, the others have to stick to that wronged member while the son thinks that truth and justice are more important. This difference in opinions, values and perspectives turn out to be crucial points in the end when the father runs into trouble again and decides to burn another barn. The son finally decides without hesitation that he will not stand up for his father and for the rest of the family who chose to stand with the father. The son decides to stop the father by calling the attention of the barn owner that there is something amiss. Thus, the son wins over the father twice in the sense that he chooses to abide by his own beliefs while at the same time upholding the laws of society and saving the property of the other. However, there is also a sense of loss of the boy since he has lost his family and he causes the death of his own father by reporting him to De Spain, the barn owner. In a way, the father’s explanation with the son comes true: since the son did not stick to his blood, his blood will also not to stick to him meaning that his family (the rest of the Snopes) will also decide to leave him or be disloyal to him. In conclusion, the conflict in the story is between father and son; and between the son’s loyalties to his family versus his moral obligations to the laws of society. Both conflicts are also resolved by the end of Faulkner’s short story with the death of the father. However, there is a possibility that a new conflict arises in the loneliness that the son is now going to experience as he makes his own way in the world and whether he can survive that loneliness. References Faulkner, W. (1939). Barn burning. The Harper American literature, v. 2, 2nd ed. Ed. McQuade, D. , et al. New York: HarperCollinsPublishers Inc. pp. 1137-1149.

Theme of Courage in Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird Essay -- essays

To Kill A Mockingbird is a book about courage to what extent do you agree with this? Harper Lee's first novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, displays the life of a small southern family struggling through the depression in Maycomb, Alabama. Seen through the innocent eyes of a young child are the events and people of Maycomb. Courage is a major theme in the novel but there are other themes like the Hypocrisy, Protecting the innocent and Prejudice, which are brought out to the same extent. The author explores the idea of courage in the novel. Atticus shows true courage by defending Tom Robinson, a black man charged with the rape of a white woman. Atticus continues to fight for justice despite knowing he can’t win the case because he is doing what he knows is right. The town is against this†¦.. This is shown when Atticus watches over Tom Robinson outside his goal cell the night he has been moved to the local goal. There are concerns about the possibility of a lynch mob. Mrs. Dubose is another example of true courage in this novel. Mrs. Dubose always yells at the children, enraging Jem. One Day when she insults Atticus, Jem wrecks her garden. As Punishment he is forced to read to her for a month. During this time Mrs. Dubose seems in a fog and has fits towards the end of the sessions. About a month after Jem finished his punishment Mrs. Dubose Dies. Atticus explains that Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict because of her illness but she had decided that she wanted to leave this world beholden to nothing and nobody. By overcoming a morphine addiction, we see that Ms. Dubose was a woman of tremendous strength and character. She was not going to spend her last days as a drug addict, and despite the pain that it caused her, she succ... ...p the saintly J. Grimes Everett and the Mruna tribe in Africa they neglect to help the poor in Maycomb. They are happy to help people in another country but blatantly ignore the people in need on their own doorstep. This issue is important because it shows that how willing people are to help out people in another country but ignore the goings on of their own town. The idea of â€Å"true courage† is used throughout this text, however so are other equally important themes such as protection of the innocent, prejudice and hypocrisy. Despite that this book was written in the 1930’s it’s idea’s are still very relevant today. I feel that prejudice and hypocrisy are especially common in small towns such as Gunnedah. Although peoples attitudes towards things like racism have not completely changed we must not give up hope, we must have faith in the good of all people.

Pans Labyrinth Analysis

Visual Cues, Harassed Symbolism and the Grim Fantasy Unlike other blissfully enchanted film genres, this evocative fairytale becomes a surreal escape into the work of Guillermo Del Toro. This chilling story confines make believe verses reality through the eyes of a young girl. Two worlds are represented within Pan’s Labyrinth, a cold hard fascist regime in Spain, and a captivating fantasyland both conveyed through visual story telling.The striking surrealism of the fantasy world becomes reflections in reality, providing small visual cues that increase as the story unfolds, unveiling a grim interaction between Ophelia and the new world she has encountered. The style becomes the narrative within the film, and the use of mise-en-scene assists the films explicit meaning, by providing connections between the merging worlds. Del Toro uses standard and non-standard approaches in film, which speaks to the audience either intentionally or through the sub conscious, so the contrast of r eality and imagination is rendered.The style throughout Pan’s Labyrinth is essential for creating dramatic dynamic throughout the film; the attention to detail becomes a fierce component to mise-en-scene, and harasses symbolism. In the beginning of the scene, Ofelia walks toward the camera in pursuit of the little creature she seen during her travels. The facial expression is bewildering, however she wants to learn more. The aspiration to study new ideas can be seen physically while she seizes onto her books, meanwhile helpers unload her other items. The grasp on her books becomes the distinguisher between make believe and reality.As Ofelia moves towards the camera, she drops her stack of books, implying that she has let go of her reality to track the small inquisitive creature. During this, men are walking around in uniform, emphasizing the strict, bleakness and harsh reality of Ofelias new circumstance. Men lined in a row suggest that this new place is in order, with routin e that shall not be disturbed and certainly no place for a wandering imagination. As Ofelia runs toward the forest, she is running towards her new destiny, juxtaposing her willingness to escape, fleeing her new reality.Upon her arrival into the forest, the labyrinth is introduced for the first time. Dark shadows are casted among the rock representing the certain unknown that will be faced. The first pathway leading into the Labyrinth is brightly lit, as to appear welcoming and warming. The dissimilarity between the darkness of the gateway and the lightness of the path can be inferred as a certain warning, some danger will be introduced before the underworld can be reached. As Ofelia walks towards the entrance, taking small, slow steps, the feeling becomes an automatic switch from reality to fantasy, and a sense of falling down the rabbit hole arises.The entrance into the Labyrinth appears untouched, with moss and shrubs growing over the walls, a clear contrast from the cruel sadisti c community ran by the Captain. The walls appear to be weathered and diminishing in time, the time it has taken to find the lost princess. The serenity of the space develops into a piece of tranquility from the outside world paired with an illusion of hope for Ofelia, a new escape she will soon learn of. Throughout Pan’s Labyrinth, shallow color is used with a lot of grey and neutral tones casted in the real world, compared to the rich feast of colors in the underworld.During this sequence however, the two worlds have not yet been distinguished, so the color differentiation is subtle, warm colors are used that provide a sense of comfort. Dark shadows are casted among the walls making the unknown prevalent to the viewer, directing our eye down the dark path that leads further into the Labyrinth. These colors suggest a belonging for Ophelia, a place where she is wanted back. This feeling never goes away for Ofelia, she engages in different levels to get a chance at her new life in the fantasy world.Becoming homesick for a place she has never been or remembers. The clothing plays a role in sustaining the mise-en-scene in this film. Ofelia is dressed in drab clothing along with her mother. Fabricating the lifestyle from which they came from, and a disparity that is latched onto them when being brought to this new home. They instantly become the outsiders from the beginning, largely recognized during the panning shot of the camp while Ofelia becomes more intrigued by the fairies return. Tight, uniformed men lined up in a row contrasted against a young curious, dowdy girl.The style of clothing not only distinguishes the relationship between the newcomers, Ofelia and her Mother, to the military camp, but also positions an extra connection between Ofelia and Mercedes. As Mercedes arrives to explain the Labyrinth to Ofelia, her clothes are ordinary and dull much like that of Ofelia. The dissimilar impression that Mercedes has from the camp appeals to Ofelia, and a relationship is bonded. The clothing becomes a staple into the closeness that these two characters will later share.This relationship is not only choice of style, rather the desire for an escape. When the solider comes up and asks for Mercedes, despair reaches across her face as she turns around, placing Ofelia in the background of the shot, but quickly the young girl reaches back up to Mercedes, sustaining their relationship has began. Trust has started to build when Ofelia explains the relationship or lack of one with the Captain, as Mercedes wraps her arm around Ofelia, completing the security of their relationship.These small visual cues help the viewer establish ideas, which the Story may soon lead into. Becoming aware of these chosen elements can help viewers foresee story components. Mise-en- scene formulates the style as a form of story telling. Guillermo Del Toro approach is surreal and provides a lot of stylistic choice in compelling this masterfully crafted fairytale. Pan’s Labyrinth becomes less about the explicit meaning; yet rather the implied visual indicators leads the viewer to reflect more about the significance then the story.

Essay on How Stigma and Discrimination Effect Mental Illness

Mental illness is a term which is used when a persons mind is affected in some way by a group of illnesses (Ministry of Health [MOH], 2012). People with mental health issues have been viewed and treated in a variety of ways within western society throughout time. Historically if an individual displayed behaviours which disrupted their function in society and defied social norms they were viewed as lunatics, insane or even cursed (Cowan, 2008; Elder Evans Nizette, 2009). It is from these past issues that many people still have unreasonable thoughts about mental illness; their misconceptions have created unreasonable fears and negative attitudes toward those who experience it. This negativity brings for many the barriers of not only†¦show more content†¦The effects of self-stigma can lead to a lack of self esteem, lack of confidence, isolation and the increased likelihood of avoiding professional help for their illness. This then has an over all affect on quality of life and where one sees themselves fitting within society (Barney, Griffiths, Jorm Christensen, 2005; Griffiths Christensen, 2004; Newell Gournay , 2000). Legislation in New Zealand such as The Human Rights Act 1993, section 21 and the Employment Rights Act 1997 are in place to prohibit the discrimination on the grounds of mental illness in areas such as housing, training, education and employment. The incidence of stigma and discrimination in these areas is however still continuing to be an issue for those with a mental illness. It has become apparent through large amounts of research that most incidences of stigma and discrimination are usually reported through research studies and surveys (Peterson Barnes Duncan 2008; Newell Gournay, 2000). El-Badri Mellsop (2007) suggest that most research on stigma tends to center on attitudes and beliefs of the public and how they view those with a mental illness. Much less emphasis on research has involved the personal experience, self-stigma and quality of life of the person with the illness and how they fit within the community. Badri Mellsops (2007) study Stigma and quality of life as ex perienced byShow MoreRelatedMental Health Stigma, Discrimination, and Prejudice1712 Words   |  7 PagesMental Health Stigma, Discrimination and Prejudice Karen Bleicher Spring, 2009 Professor Mark Harris Social Problems 2023 To Fight Stigmas, Start with Treatment Last fall, British television broadcast a reality program called â€Å"How Mad Are You?† The plot was simple: 10 volunteers lived together for a week in a house in the countryside and took part in a series of challenges. The amazing thing was that there were no prizes at the end of the challenges. There was a very interestingRead MoreThe Stigma Of Mental Illness1602 Words   |  7 Pagescenturies have seeked to improve care and reduce stigma around those with mental illness. This began in 1942, when Harry Truman signed the National Mental Health Act, which requested the formation of a National Institute of Mental Health. Shortly after this, in 1949, the National Institute of Mental Health was established (â€Å"National Institute of Mental Health†). During the company’s 60 year lifespan they have focused on research about mental illness, educating the public, and improving the lives ofRead MoreMental Health Service Delivery Models1146 Words   |  5 Pages Mental health illness is related to a group of illness, anxiety and stress are the most common health problems. Mental illness affects how a person feels, thinks, behaves, and interacts with other people (Department of Health, 2007). Mental health service delivery models in Australia has significantly changed from institutional care to the community care setting (Frost et al., 2017). This easy will discuss about he changes in services before and post institutional, how recovery model introduced inRead MoreThe Stigma Of Children With Mental Illness1608 Words   |  7 Pagesassociation with mental illness. This stigma creates a negative feedback loop in how society views people with psychiatric disabilities. Media portrays people with mental illness as scary, bad, dangerous, unpredictable, and un-educated. These views cause people to shy away and fear the mentally ill. This stigma also affects a person’s willingness to seek help when they are experiencing a mental illness. Some cultures, such as Hispanic Catholics, may not recognize mental illness as a health problemRead MoreThe Ways Oppressions Are Carried Out1481 Words   |  6 Pagesparticular, the discrimination against the mentally ill becomes an interesting and unique history that has evolved due to Western medicine, and now effects the whole world. In many instances, it has become apparent that the symptoms and stigma surrounding the mentally ill stems from Western ideals as well. This paper explores this stigma, the ways oppressions are carried out, and how they are being dealt with. When society is confronted with those who suffer from a mental illness, people are oftenRead MoreThe Stigma Of Mental Health Care Essay1711 Words   |  7 PagesMental health issues have been an ongoing hot topic in this country for over a century. Though many strides have been made to increase awareness and lessen the stigma, there continues to be a barrier to mental health care, especially for our nations’ youth and young adults. I will be discussing the history behind mental health care, current policies regarding it, how the presence of stigma reduces the likelihood that youth and young adults are receiving the adequate mental health care they requireRead MoreThe Importance Of Mental Disorders In The Prison System1288 Words   |  6 PagesIn addition, persons with mental disorders are clearly overrepresented in the prison system, when compared to rates of persons in the community with mental disorders, studies found â€Å"that prevalence estimates were three to 12 time s higher than in community samples, reaching as high as 64%,† (Prins, S. J., 2014, p. 862) with â€Å"prevalence† being defined as the commonness or occurrence of a mental disorder. The reasoning behind this skewed representation has continually puzzled researchers and led toRead MoreIntroduction.... â€Å"If Mental Illness Could Be Seen On A1255 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction... â€Å"If mental illness could be seen on a sufferer maybe society wouldn’t say ‘just get over it’ .† Mental illness unlike other diseases or disorders are, for the most part invisible. They are not easily recognised. These instances of being told to â€Å"just get over it† or â€Å"just calm down† or â€Å"It’s all in your head† are direct evidence of the stigma of having mental illness present in some cultures. A mental illness is in fact in your head, but your head is connected to body, they areRead MoreInadequacy Of The United States Mental Health Care System1104 Words   |  5 PagesStates Mental Health Care System: Barriers to Care According to the World Health Organization, mental illness will affect approximately 25% of people at some point in their life (â€Å"WHO Qualityrights†, n.d.). Despite that, the current mental health care system in the United States is inadequate. Many aspects of the system need improving, especially the barriers to service. In fact, approximately 20% of individuals are left without necessary treatment for their mental health disorder (â€Å"Mental Health†Read MoreThe Stigma Associated With Schizophrenia1554 Words   |  7 PagesThe Stigma Associated with Schizophrenia. Jason Branch Fayetteville Tech Community College Author Note This paper was prepared for English 112.02, taught by Mr. Charles King on April 2, 2015 Abstract Mental illness is an area that many people are uncomfortable with. There is something suspicious about people who tend to appear mentally ill. This creates nervousness, fear, while presenting the unknown; therefore, Stigma. Now Stigma is defined as disgrace or public disapproval, which can lead

The American Dream - 704 Words

The American dream is something everyone has a different opinion of. It has changed over time and has been the topic of many songs, poems, and books. The American dream started out with immigrants coming over to America with the hope of new opportunities and a better life, which America had offered. America offered equal opportunity for everyone and the dream began. Although many Americans dreams differ because of personal experience, the American Dream is getting to the place where you are the happiest. When anyone comes over to America they automatically have the chance to do or achieve something great. In The New Colossus By Emma Lazarus she describes the Statue of Liberty that greets new people coming into the country. She describes†¦show more content†¦Their dream is more of becoming a celebrity. They believe that they are still working hard doing what they’re doing but there are just different opportunities now to chase rather than the opportunities that were th ere 50 years ago. These people say that the American dream can still require hard work, but what makes the dream has changed over time to more of a money based thing. The American Dream is not about being rich or working hard for your whole life, it is about being happy with where you are and having what you want, whether that is a lot of money or just a good job.The dream is about more than what the standard is at your time. The poem â€Å"I Hear America Singing† by Walt Whitman accurately describe this idea. He describes the people working and doing their job but being happy while doing these things. They all have their place, they all feel needed, and they each are happy and are singing â€Å"varied carols†. Also in the movie â€Å"The Pursuit of Happyness†, the story is about a family going through tough times, but the father and the son make it out alright because they are together and the father, Chris Gardner, says as long as they are happy they will be fine. He ends up getting a well paying job that he likes and at the end is a happy person. He achieved the American dream of being happy at where you are in life and wit h opportunities to do what makes a person happy. The American dream is not an idea everyone can agree on, but anShow MoreRelatedImmigrants And The American Dream1362 Words   |  6 PagesImmigrants and the American Dream In the article â€Å"The American Dream†, by James Truslow Adams in The Sundance Reader book, he stated that the American dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and highRead MoreThe American Dream By Kimberly Amadeo1637 Words   |  7 PagesNowadays, a large number of people migrate to the United States to work and achieve the American Dream. According to the Article â€Å"What is the American Dream?† by Kimberly Amadeo, â€Å"The American Dream was first publicly defined in 1931 by James Truslow Adams in Epic of America. Adam’s often-repeated quote is, ‘The American Dream is that dream of land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyon e, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.’† There are many peopleRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The American Dream 754 Words   |  4 Pages Nyreel Powell Ms. Jones American Literature 1 June 2015 The American dream in A Raisin in the Sun Have you ever had a dream and it didn’t come how you wanted it to be? Have you ever had accomplishments that you wanted to achieve but people were getting in the way of them? The four main characters in this book all have good dreams but there are people in the way of getting to those dreams or their dream is too high to accomplish. A Raisin in the Sun a play written by Lorraine Hansberry, andRead MoreSister Carrie and the American Dream1618 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Dream is surely based on the concept of â€Å"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness† but it is above all, a matter of ambition. James Truslow Adams, an American writer and historian, in 1931 states: life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement†, which not only points towards a better standard of living for Americans but also denounces a degree of greed in the US society. Ambition not only â€Å"killed the catâ₠¬  butRead MoreGrapes Of Wrath And The American Dream1644 Words   |  7 PagesThe idea of the American Dream is ever changing depending on the person and the time of life that person is in. Although the main ideas of the American Dream remain the same to be educated, economically sound, healthy, to have a family, and equal rights. Many great films and works of literature were created to show case all the different ideas people have for their American Dream. The film â€Å"Grapes of Wrath† directed by John Ford and the poem â€Å"I Will Fight No More Forever† by Chief Joseph, both depictRead More Destruction of the American Dream Essay2145 Words   |  9 PagesDestruction of the American Dream I’ve talked about it in the past, the destruction of the American Dream. Always, there have been papers, writings, and thoughts that quantify a particular section of its ultimate demise, be it due to money, education, or sexuality. Maybe the destruction cannot be viewed as a singular event or cause. Perhaps instead it must be examined as a whole process, the decay and ultimate elimination of a dream. Self destruction, if you will†¦ Mr. Self Destruct Read MoreSuccess As One Of The American Dream1137 Words   |  5 PagesApril 2015 Success as One of The American Dream When we hear the word â€Å"success†, we often think of wealth and money. To some people, the embodiment of being success is earning a lot of money. In fact, the concept of success is primarily based on how much money a person earns. However, each person views the definition of success differently. One way to define success is something that has more to do with flash than it does with substance. John Wooden, an American basketball player and coach viewRead MoreJim Cullen And The American Dream2081 Words   |  9 Pages The American Dream, as defined by Cullen, is starting your goal off with a little and ending with more; it s like a business, you invest in it in order to gain more money. Usually, people will define the American Dream as being able to achieve your goal because everyone is offered opportunities. Cullen does acknowledge that people are born with different opportunities, so he talks about the good life. The good life describes different factors that determine your opportunities. Throughout the otherRead MoreFactors Influencing The American Dream1834 Words   |  8 Pagesindividual to succumb or to not succumb to the seductions of crime. These three factors are brilliantly portrayed in the television show, Breaking Bad and the novel, The Stick Up Kids. The American Dream is what many American citizens strive for. However, not all of those citizens are able to achieve the American Dream through a legal pathway. The reason an indivudal may not being able to do so is because of his or her background factors. It is important to note that background factors are a fractionRead MoreShark Tank And The American Dream1755 Words   |  8 PagesShark Tank and The American Dream The TV show Shark tank embodies everything the American dream represents. The show obtains successful Entrepreneurs ready to invest their own money into other Americans wanting to be just like them, reaching the American dream and become a successful entrepreneur. The show presents entrepreneurs working towards the goal of creating a business to not only gain wealth but also change the way we live today. The show is to keep the American dream alive and well while

Essay on Mark Twain and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Samuel Clemens was an American writer and humorist whos best work is shown by broad social satire, realism of place and language, and memorable characters. Clemens was born November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri. His family moved to Hannibal, Mississippi when he was four. There he received a public school education. Samuel Clemens was a difficult child, given to mischief and mis adventure. He barely escaped drowning on nine separate occasions. His fathers death was a calamity in which Samuel was not prepared for. Albert Bigelow Paine, Clemens official biographer, offers the following glimpse of the young Clemens†¦show more content†¦After leaving his first job he took his printers and became a journeyman printer in Keokuk, Iowa, New York City, Philadelphia, and other cities, and then a steamboat pilot until the break out of the American Civil War which brought end to traveling on the river. After a failed attempt at silver mining in 1862 he became a reporter on the Territorial Enterprise in Virginia City, Nevada, and later in 1863 began signing his articles with the pseudonym Mark Twain, a Mississippi River phrase meaning two fathoms deep. After the move to San Francisco in 1864, Twain met the writers Artmeus Ward and Bret Harte, who encouraged him on his work. In 1865 Twain rewrote a tail he heard in the California gold fields and within months the author and the story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, had become a national sensation. In later years Twain visited Europe and the Holy Lands which he wrote about in the book, The Innocents Abroad, which was published in 1869. This book discussed those aspects of the Old World culture which impress American tourists. 1870 is the year in which he married his loving wife Olivia Langdon. After a short time in Buffalo the newlywed couple moved to Hartford, Connecticut. In theShow MoreRelatedThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain830 Words   |  3 PagesThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is â€Å"A Great American Novel†, because of its complexity and richness. Twain writes dialogue that brings his characters to life. He creates characters with unique voice and helps the reader connect to the book. Anyone who reads it is forced to develop feelings for each character. Even though there is a great amount of controversy over the use of some choices, such as the â€Å"n word†, it makes the book more realistic. In the beginning of the novel Huck,Read MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1103 Words   |  5 PagesDmitri Van Duine Jr English Mr. Nelson November 27th The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Written by Mark Twain filled his stories with many examples of satire as to convey a message while also writing an interesting story. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn revolves around the adventures of a young boy called Huckleberry Finn, who is about thirteen years old. Tom Sawyer is Huck’s best friend and around the same age as Huck. He is onlyRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain Essay1055 Words   |  5 PagesZambrano Mrs. Patmor AP Lit-Period 5 28 September 2016 Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 1835 Mark Twain embodies realism in almost every aspect of his writing not excluding The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which in he portrays such a lifelike setting that it almost gives you this sense of reality through the point of view of a young man that has an urge for freedom yet struggles to conform to society s norms due to his adolescence. Twain s ability to unmask the true identities of the charactersRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain931 Words   |  4 PagesWolski Mrs. Goska English 2H Period 3 22 October 2014 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mob mentality is the way an individual’s decisions become influenced by the often unprincipled actions of a crowd. Mark Twain penned The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain grew up in America’s southern states during the early 1800’s, a time in which moral confusion erupted within the minds of humans. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn s protagonist is a young boy named Huck who freely travels alongRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1375 Words   |  6 Pagesmention the years spent growing and maturing physically. Teenagers are stuck in an inbetween state where they must learn who they want to become and what they want to be when they grow older. The same is true for Huckleberry Finn, from the book â€Å"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† by Mark Twain. This is a book that was written in a time of great confusion over moral codes and standards. It was a world split in half by two different worlds of people; those who opposed, a nd those who promoted slavery.Read MoreMark Twain and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1575 Words   |  6 Pages Mark Twain and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Controversy Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, is a highly recognizable figure in American literature. Born in Florida, Missouri Mark Twain and his family moved to Hannibal, Missouri where Twain discovered and fell in love with the mighty Mississippi River. The river and his life in Hannibal became his inspiration and guiding light in most of his writing. Although Twain loved the river and did a great deal of traveling, he eventuallyRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain2083 Words   |  9 PagesSatire in Huckleberry Finn In the novel â€Å"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† by Mark Twain, we are told a story about a young boy and his slave companion’s journey down the Mississippi River and all of their encounters with other characters. Twain constructed a beautiful narrative on how young Huck Finn, the protagonist in the story, learns about the world and from other adult characters, how he is shaped into his own person. At the time this book was made however, this novel provided serious socialRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain810 Words   |  4 PagesBefore Mark Twain started to write two of his most famous novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark was known to use his characters to display his own thoughts and opinions. â€Å"This device allowed him to say just about anything he wanted, provided he could convincingly claim he was simply reporting what others had said.† (Twain, 1283). Mark Twain used this process to be a foundation of his lectures, by manipulating his popularly with his readers. During the storyRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1005 Words   |  5 Pages In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain in the 19th century is about a young boy named Huck Finn and Jim, a runaway slave who go on an adventure. The two travel on a raft along the Mississippi river creating a bond and making memories. Mark Twain presents Huckleberry Finn as a dynamic character who at first views Jim as property and eventually considers Jim as a friend, showing a change in maturity. In the beginning of the book, Huck Finn clearly sees Jim as nothing more thanRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1335 Words   |  6 Pagesyear The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is placed in the top ten banned books in America. People find the novel to be oppressing and racially insensitive due to its frequent use of the n-word and the portrayal of blacks as a Sambo caricature. However, this goes against Mark Twain’s intent of bringing awareness to the racism in America. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is classified under the genre of satire and is narrated by a fictional character named Huckleberry Finn. The novel

Strategic International Business And Competitive Strategy Of IKEA

Question: Discuss about the Competitive Strategy Practices of IKEA. Answer: Introduction: This paper is mainly relying on examination of the theoretical concepts related to international business as well as various competitive strategies and on the basis of observing the best practices of the industry on international competitive strategy it will be suggested which strategy would be best for IKEA , so deductive approach would be the best one for this study. The deductive approach is mainly based on testing the processes that start with a generalised concept or an established theory (Hyde, 2000) . In this case also the study will use deductive method as a theoretical framework will be used for collecting the relevant data so that an accurate analysis as well as conclusion can be drawn. Since qualitative approach is mainly created on the basis of comprehending or exploration of the meaning that the individuals or the groups can easily contribute towards any social issue and this research also covers a diverse range of questions , while focussing on the individual meanings (Creswell, 2014) . This paper will be using qualitative research approach because the subject that has been chosen for study is quite critical thus needs in depth investigation. Quantitative research approach has been eliminated because the main focus of the study is to collect relevant data in relation to international business as well as competitive strategies adopted by organizations to be successful in international markets. After the consideration of various research designs, descriptive research design has been chosen for this study because it will be based on finding that which would be the best practices for the industry in relation to international competitive strategy. Descriptive design for research has been chosen because it is common in relation to various business aspects and mainly aims at describing varied groups of entities or people (Bryman Bell, 2003) . Causal research design has been discarded because this kind of model is mainly used for finding out whether one variable is capable of determining the value of another variables or not (Ghauri Grnhaug, 2005). This research study will rely on just the secondary data as Case Study of IKEA will be done on the basis of previous data and studies that have been conducted on IKEA and what international market strategies has it adopted in past. The information will be collected from the past researches that have been complied as journal articles, annual reports of IKEA; this will help in gaining much holistic view about IKEA. Secondary data will be used because to will save both cost and time and will also provide an opportunity for longitudinal analysis as well (Bryman Bell, 2011 ; Krishnaswamy Satyaprasad, 2010). Case Study has been used as research strategy for this study because this will help the researcher to develop an in-depth analysis of the case and moreover in case study the data collected is mainly processed within a continuous timeframe (Hultman et al. , 2008 ; Creswell, 2014) . Case studies are moreover used mainly in the cases where a complex social phenomenon needs to be understood and it is very effective in showing the significant as well as holistic features of the real life matters (Yin, 2009). Case Organization Description IKEA is one of worlds well known furnishing companies that hold reputation for selling Scandinavian style furniture as well as other home based goods. Currently the company has worldwide 230 stores and the company is operation across the globe in 42 nations with more than 70,000 employees. The capacity of store itself is to host 410 shoppers in a year. The Swedish based organization has been built on the basis of the idea to offer a wide range of functional , and well designed home furnishing products at much lower rates , so that majority of the people can easily afford them. The INGKA Foundation currently solely owns the IKEA Group with the help of a holding company. Background of IKEA The company called IKEA was being founded by Ingvar Kamprad who was a Swedish native, at young age of 17 years in 1943 when he was being rewarded by father in the form of money for doing well in studies. He used this money for a start-up which initially sold basic items like pens, wallets, jewellery at much lower price (IKEA, 2012). In 1948 furniture was also included in its product range and since he got quite positive response, the product line was expanded. Customers were also allowed to view as well as touch the various range of furniture that was just viewable through catalogue. To gain competitive advantage IKEA also opened a showroom and later on flat packs and self-assembly concepts were introduced. In 1963 it opened a store in Norway and since then IKEA has been expanding to various countries like Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Canada, Netherlands, Australia and Austria. Then 1980 onwards with its new concepts it started expanding further to new markets through franchising. And a new ownership structure was developed in the organization. Context of IKEA The vision of IKEA as an organization is to: Create a better everyday life for many people (IKEA, 2012). The entire business of IKEA strongly supports this vision by both manufacturing as well as selling wide range of home furnishing products that too at much affordable price. Current Strategic International Business and Competitive Strategy of IKEA In a comparative study regarding standardised marketing strategies internationally in retail sector when the international strategies of IKEA were compared in three entirely different markets , China, Sweden and The United States , it was found it adopts standardization approach worldwide with very minimal amount of adaptations that too depending upon the prevailing local cultural values (Burt et al. , 2011) . Therefore as per IKEAs standardised approach for doing business overseas, it suggests that following a standardized approach really works well for the big retailers, although there are quite notable cultural differences. IKEA is quite often used and quoted as an example for the successful centralized organization that implements standardisation strategy. It is a global retailer also that adopts the similar kind of approach in each and every market wherever it operates (Maktoba Porter, 2011) . Standardisation has been considered as the strength of the company and due to global sourcing decisions and selling modern furniture it has been able to reduce the price of its products by at least forty percent (Edvardsson Enquist, 2012). As per Porters Five Generic Competitive Strategies , IKEA has focussed on minimising the production cost and being a modern furniture manufacturing company it has created low cost efficient supply chains with the help of outsourcing. It has approximately 1400 suppliers that have manufactured various products for the organization that too at very low and affordable price, thus decreasing the cost of production. That is why IKEA is capable of providing highly unique as well as quality products, that too at much reasonable cost to the target demographics thus delivering competitive advantage to the firm(Chung, 2008) . To gain competitive advantage it has also adopted transnational strategy as well, where IKEA has created extraordinary tactics for every different nation. For example in case of Chinese markets it has developed compact stores as there are several locations that needs to be accessed and just for the stores in China balcony facilities along with other different layouts have been introduced (Nachum, 2012) . For home delivery services they have added rare-car ownership facility in its list of Chinese counterparts and by adopting transnational strategy IKAE has been able to get attention of customers towards its stores. Teams Perception of IKEAs International Business and Competitive Strategy Challenges and Opportunities As per the teams perception the goal of sustainability as well as environmental design will be the main points to be focussed in its business strategy .SWOT analysis acts as a strategic tool to achieve its objectives in case of IKEA. Any business can counter the threats by capitalising on its strengths and thus create opportunities for itself (Mintel Oxygen, 2010). Like in case of IKEA its major strength is its strategic objective of using not more martial than needed in the manufacturing of each and every item and it also creates its product plans so that it can use more of recycled or waste materials in its products. Strengths: It is a strong global brand that is capable of attracting major consumer groups while promising as well as delivering similar range and quality all across the globe. Focuses on a democratic design that helps in creating a balance between design, price, functionality as well as quality. Cost Consciousness feature of IKEA indicates that lower price is being taken into account whenever each product is being designed from very starting. Works on a strong concept that is entirely based on offering a wide range of functional as well as well designed products that too at lower price (Mintel Oxygen, 2010) . It uses Key performance Indicators (KPIs) for assessing its progress in terms of its vision and long term goals. Strengths in its production process like more use of renewable materials, smart use of raw materials, economies of scale, reducing transportation cost by sourcing materials very closer to supply chain, using latest technologies and volume commitments. Weaknesses: Size as well as scale of business might make it difficult for IKEA to control the quality and standards (Johansson et al., 2008). Need for lower price products is tough to be balanced with good quality products. It is difficult task to maintain good communication with the consumers as well as stakeholders due to large scale of business. Opportunities: Rising demand for greener products that are low priced. More demand for products that have lower water usage as well as lower carbon footprints (The Times, 2014). IKEA offers its customers solutions through which they can live a sustainable life at their home by giving online tips and ideas. Makes use of resources in sustainable manner for example IKEAs main aim is to create zero waste for landfills, methods for lesser water usage and wastewater treatment. IKEA also focuses on reducing carbon footprints by decreasing the use of energy and using more of renewable energy, cutting down its use of air transport as well as reduced packaging. It has developed social responsibilities through IKEA policies where it supports charities like UNICEF, Save the Children etc.(The Times, 2014) Threats: Some of the ongoing social trends like slowdown in the first-time buyers that are entering the housing sector and this are the core target market segment in case of IKEA (Tarnovskaya, 2012). Economic factors like recession might also decrease the consumer spending as well as result in declining disposable income. Since more competitor are making entry in the sector of lower priced household and furnishings so IKEA will have to reinforce its unique qualities to deal with its competitors (Johansson, Hansson, Hanssson, Thelander, 2008). Other Observations and Conclusion The above analysis suggests that IKEA has been a successful retailer in household and furnishings market and expanding into the international markets has provided it with great opportunities as well in these markets. It has achieved increased market size through its market development strategy by selling its existing products into the new markets. IKEA has been able to gain higher returns as well on its major initial capital investments from various other nations except for its home country. That is why they have started exploring new markets. It has been able to exploit its economies of scale by merely expanding in the markets that already consist of homogeneous consumer tastes that does not need much adaptation, by simply using the standardised products all over the globe (Hitt, Ireland, Hoskisson, 2012). The main focus of IKEA is to create and manufacture highly elegant products that are of good quality and low price. By expanding its market base it has also expanded its scope fo r internationalisation as well as has expanded its learning by expanding its knowledge base also. These new markets are also source of innovation in the specific sector of home furnishings and furniture. It also gains competitive advantage from location as every new location has different culture , while the economic factors are specific and it also makes use of geography as well as administration. Through internationalisation it has extended its product life cycle as Swedish market was saturated so IKEA decided to expand its business in other markets. Sweden not being a large market, there seems to be limited growth, so IKEA thought of expanding to various other international markets like Russia, China, European countries and US. IKEA tried to gain competitive advantage by adopting product differentiation by adapting to various markets. IKEA tries to increase its profitability by adopting cost reductions. Initially IKEA was also using global strategy where production along with marketing as well as various other activities that are concentrated in few locations, while there is no customization, to maintain economies of scale. IKEA basically follows standardisation strategy successfully as international strategy however at few places it does have to follow adaptation as per market needs. About ninety percent of its product line is same across the countries but adapting is needed whenever required. IKEA has thus managed to gain cost leadership while ensuring that it caters to local demands through product differentiation thus adopti ng transnational strategy. Bibliography Bryman, A., Bell, E. (2011). Business Research methods. Oxford University Press. Bryman, B., Bell. (2003). Business Reserach Methods. Sage. Burt, S., Johansson, U., Thelander, A. (2011). Standardized Marketing Strategies in Retailing? IKEAs Marketing Strategies in Sweden, the UK and China. Journal of Retailing and Customer Services , 183-193. Chung, H. (2008). The Impact of a Centralised Organisational Structure on Marketing Standardisation Strategy and Performance: The Experience of Price, Place and Management Processes. Journal Of Global Marketing , 83-107. Creswell, J. (2014). Research Design. Sage Pub. Edvardsson, B., Enquist, B. (2012). 'The IKEA Saga': How Service Culture Drives Service Strategy. The Service Industries Journal , 153-186. Ghauri, P., Grnhaug, K. (2005). Research Methods in Business Studies. Essex: Great Britain: Pearson Education Limited. Hitt, M., Ireland, R., Hoskisson, R. (2012). Strategic management: Concepts and cases. Cengage Learning. Hultman, M., Opoku, R. A., Oghazi, P., Bui, Q. T. (2008). Private label competition: the perspective of Swedish branded goods manufacturers. Management Research News , 125-141. Hyde, K. (2000). Recognizing deductive process in qualitative research. Internationa;l Journal , 83. IKEA. (2012). Welcome Inside: IKEA Group Yearly Summary FY12. Retrieved September 12, 2016, from IKEA website: https://www.ikea.com/ms/en_CN/pdf/yearly_summary/ys_welcome_inside_2012.pdf Johansson, U., Hansson, C., Hanssson, F., Thelander, A. (2008). Newspapers- Image formation agents for retailers? Medien im Marketing, Gabler. Krishnaswamy, O. R., Satyaprasad, B. G. (2010). Business research methods. Mumbai: Himalaya Publishing House. Maktoba, O., Porter, M. (2011). Reducing risk in foreign market entry strategies: standardization versus modification. Journal Article, Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal , 382-396. Mintel Oxygen. (2010). Furniture Retailing - UK. Mintel Oxygen. Nachum, L. (2012). Global comparative strategy. Global Strategy Journal , 92-95. Tarnovskaya. (2012). Activating Stakeholders : An Approach by MNCs in Emerging markets . Emerald Group Publishing Limited. The Times. (2014). IKEA: SWOT analysis and sustainable business planning. Retrieved September 12, 2016, from The Times 100.UK: https://www.circleinternational.co.uk/circle/strategy_files/ikea%20mrktswot.pdf Yin, R. (2009). Case Study Research: Design and Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA Sage.