Monday, January 27, 2020

The Glass Menagerie Title Meaning

The Glass Menagerie Title Meaning Even though the familys relationship towards one another in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is both dysfunctional, and questionable you begin to see a deeper meaning to which the title of the story foreshadows. The story begins with the family having supper. As this dinner continues we learn that they are in a single parent household with a mother, Amanda, who is stuck in her youth, a son, Tom, who is trying to separate himself from the dysfunction of his mother, and a daughter, Laura, who has a physical handicap that hinders her from taking part in normal activities including interacting with people. But as the story moves along Laura is somewhat broken out of her shell, Tom moves out, and Amanda develops a closer relationship with her daughter. The title The Glass Menagerie seems to suggest transparency, fragileness, and special attention and care which describe exactly what this family is and needs. Reading the play and basing it in relations to the title it is clear tha t the title has more meaning then meets first glance. Some may argue that the title has no relation what so ever to the play because of things like, who is the mains character? and how the title does not help in defining the underline meaning of the play? These points may very well be true but the question is asked, why is The Glass Menagerie a good title? The glass menagerie is a good title because it leaves a certain mystery to the story, it suggests deeper aspects to the characters in relation to life, and it gives depth to the characters. Â  In the story there is a scene between Tom and Amanda when they are having a confrontation about Tom and where he goes when he leaves home after work. As the argument is escalading Lauras class menagerie breaks. Glass is both fragile and delicate which seems to describe Tom and his mothers relationship, and the breaking of the glass comes at a time when there own relationship cracks. The mystery is why this glass? Why the glass menagerie at this particular time? The suggestive mystery would seem to be the fact they are in some ways like the glass animals and are in cased in a glass case making them venerable, fragile and easily broken. The titles mystery is not just towards the characters weakness, but the mystery of the titles relation to life. It is clear to point out the irrelevance of Amandas Scarlett OHara attitude, toms get away attitude, and Lauras over the top shyness, but there behaviors are not totally irrelevant to real life. At the beginning of the play Tom says I reverse it to that quaint period, the thirties, when the huge middle class of America was matriculating in a school for the blind.(282-83) Tom gave insight to a time period when the economy is struggling due to the great depression. Life in that time was harder, and for Amanda being the only parent in her household it was even tougher. Her reverting back to her past is not at all for fetched or uncommon. Humans tend to go back to happier times in there lives so they are able to cope with the present. All the characters found ways to cope with there situations whether it was skipping school or going to the movies. Lauras defect gave her server introversion that most people suffer from, especially those in her position, and Toms itch to get out of the nes t stems from him getting older and not being able to experience what young men his age do. The weak time period and the fragileness of the economy fit the title and its relevance to life and add a certain depth to each character. The underline meaning of the title helps to add depth to the characters. With out the title the play and its characters would be just that, characters. Because the play uses real life situations it makes it easier to relate to the characters and actually understand each of them. Tom says at the end of the story I didnt go to the moon, I went much further-for time is the longest distance between places.(329) By Tom saying this it shows that these characters are deep and aspire for more then given. By Tom being the narrator he represents all the characters and there insight of how they perceive the world around them. As the play comes to an end you see the characters evolve from being associated from being in a glass case to finding there way out of that enclosure. The Glass Menagerie is no longer a relic or just a title about a glass case, but instead a window into the characters lives. Even through The Glass Menagerie is a great title for such a deep play. Some would not agree that The Glass Menagerie is a good title. Amandas fascination with the past, Lauras inferiority complex (321), and Toms urge to get out is as transparent as the title and is simple as deep as either of the characters get. This could be understood to be true because this family obviously has been this way for quit sometime and there depth cannot be seen pass there ways. Although they seem to not be as deep or as transparent as the title suggest, still there are moments where you are inclined to believe that there is more to them. You see that Amandas reasonings to live in the pass is based on her present and because of that she wants her kids have better lives then she has. Toms unhappiest causes him to write poems, and narrate the play so we are able to understand and know what the familys current situation is about and could find a relation to them and our own lives. Lauras shyness and her b lossoming at the end of the play shows how much more she is as a character and how she is the most important figure in what the title has to do with the play. The more you begin to look out side the box and the more you look at the play for meaning instead of logic the more you see that the title is more interesting then any other title put in its place. Tennessee Williams takes a look into the world of an under class family in the 1930s who have many issue that they may or may not be aware of, and puts it in the fore front so that the readers can feel what these characters feel. He has a mother play both parents because of their broken household and gives her an outlet from her current situation which is recapturing her youth. He brings forth a son who sees his broken family and cannot help or fight the urge to get away so he retreats to watch movies or to drink, and a daughter who is physically handicap and is letting this disability whole her back for becoming the women she should be, and the beauty she should feel. These characters give insight to what is real and ultimately the end to happily ever after. But for this to be bought to anyones attention the title of the story has to be up to pare with what the author is trying to accomplish, and the point that is trying to be proven. Though some argue that choosing The Glass Menage rie as the title of this play gives no meaning to what the plays message truly is, this title makes perfect sense. We are quick to judge what we do not understand therefore to some it would not, but this title goes beyond just words and focus on the meaning. The Glass Menagerie means glass is easily broken, can have cracks, and makes even the tiniest flaws visible, but it can always be repaired. What we see looking in is not whats really going on, but it is what is done to break that glass and let that something out is whats more important.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Othello – Power of Words

Othello Words of Power December 12, 2011 The famous saying, â€Å"The pen is mightier than the sword† means that with words and brains, it can become a greater weapon than a sword. If such a person was to have this power with words, then one shall lead to great things, if the person wishes to do so. In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago uses his skills with persuasion and words to captivate the minds around him in reaching desired outcomes. Iago definitely demonstrates his powers with his words in the play on many occasions. He firstly captivates Roderigo in doing whatever he chose him to do. The simple minded Roderigo was not the only one, as Cassio is set up into Iago's traps next. Lastly the great Othello is wrapped up by Iago's tongue and is tossed around as Iago's will. To catch a fish, bait and a hook is required, in the drama Iago plots, Cassio is the bait. Cassio is the man who provokes Othello and unknowingly kills Othello. Iago's intentions were to take Cassio's position in the ranks, because Othello gave the position to Cassio instead of him. Iago does this by exploiting Cassio's biggest flaw, his lack of drinking. Iago uses his fancy speech and talents in song, â€Å"King Stephen was a worthy peer†¦ ith that he called the tailor lown. † (II. iii 89-92) ,to encourage Cassio to drink multiple doses. This causes Cassio to get in a fight which results in Othello removing his position. â€Å"Reputation, reputation, reputation! Oh, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. † (II. iii 262-265) After being de-ranked by Othello, Cassio is haunted by the fact that he lost his reputation, but Iago convinces him reputation is worth nothing. Later on however, he tells Othello that reputation to him is everything. This is just another example of Iago's way of manipulating people's thoughts of him. Post being de-ranked by Othello, Iago convinces Cassio to talk to Desdemona about getting his rank back. Iago tells Cassio, if he can get Desdemona to sweet talk to Othello about you, then you will get your position back for sure. Cassio agrees with Iago having no clue this is just to make Othello jealous. Iago chooses Cassio to be used as bait because Othello already thinks Cassio is more suitable than himself for Desdemona. Cassio fails to recognize any of the jealousy by Othello so he continues to try and get on the good side of Desdemona, which just leads to more jealousy by Othello. Iago trapped Othello and Cassio in a predicament that they cannot escape. Roderigo, a simple man with a simple mind, a man who lets himself trust others more than his own judgment at times, is completely clouded by Iago's words. From the first pages of the play, Roderigo is seen doing what Iago chooses and obeying willingly. â€Å"Were I the Moor I would not be Iago. In following him I follow but myself†¦ For daws to peck at. I am not what I am. † (I. i. 57–65) Here Iago clearly states his motives and expresses that he is not who he appears to be. He is letting everyone know the nice, kind Iago is not the true self. Despite all this, Roderigo is still wrapped up in Iago's lies and continues to do as Iago wishes. Roderigo spends all his money on Iago to hope that Iago can work his â€Å"magic† and make Desdemona his. Iago is constantly letting Roderigo know that Desdemona will soon be his, he tells Roderigo Desdemona will soon come to her senses and run to him: â€Å"It is merely lust of the blood†¦ and go without her. † (Shakespeare, I. iii. 377-404). Even when Roderigo was on the verge of killing Iago because the promises are not coming true, he is still convinced by Iago to do one more task. This ultimately leads Roderigo to his death, because Roderigo never stopped to think everything through. When Roderigo fails to accomplish what Iago planned for him, Iago backstabs him and kills him. The dramatist Iago, is willing to do anything to keep things running smoothly for him. Iago uses Roderigo to set off his drama show, and Roderigo is played by Iago wonderfully. The general of Cyprus, the man who has won countless wars, and the hero of the city, Othello. Despite all these winning characteristics, he still lost to the twisted words of Iago. Othello, an honest black man who falls in love with Desdemona, and she him. At the beginning of the play, Othello had full trust in Desdemona and was happily married to her. As Iago steps in however, that all changes. â€Å"I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,  abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb. For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too. Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me. â€Å"(II. i. 305-308) Iago says his plans to gain Othello's trust, just to betray him in the end. Othello treats Iago like a brother, and is constantly calling him â€Å"Honest Iago†. Iago's plan to destroy Othello is to destroy his love with Desdemona. He does this by making Othello think Desdemona is unfaithful. Iago acts very smoothly, directing the actions of others without them knowing his true intentions. Iago would often be reluctant to speak, seeming innocent. When he does this to Othello, it gets Othello's curiosity to set off. â€Å"I prithee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, as thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts, the worst of words. † (III. iii. 131-133) Othello begs for Iago to speak here, because he cannot bare not knowing what Iago knows. With the speaking abilities of Iago, he is able to lie with such perfection that Othello has no choice but worry about his words, worry if Desdemona is really being unfaithful. Even when Othello would put this idea in the back of his mind, Iago would constantly remind him of it. The cleverness of Iago is demonstrated when he would look like he is helping a person, but the truth is otherwise. â€Å"O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss. â€Å"(III. iii. 165-167) Iago seems like he is trying to warn Othello about jealousy, but by saying this he is actually getting Othello more jealous. Othello is unaware the entire time of Iago's plot to get what he wants. As Iago's lies dig deeper into Othello's mind, Othello is forced into an incurable sense of hopelessness about Desdemona, and Othello makes the grave mistake of killing her. Othello's trust in Iago left him listening to no one else, even when he's wife pleaded she is telling the truth. This is the effectiveness of Iago's way with words, and how he uses that to set up his drama, plotting everyone against each other to his benefits. Language, the human's way of communication, a necessity amongst the population, a tool and occasionally, a weapon. Iago's way of speech gives him the advantage over others. In the book Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago uses his way of words to create situations that will lead to a result that favours himself. He manipulates Othello, Cassio, and Roderigo in ways that destroy each other but benefiting him at the same time. Iago expresses this characteristic throughout the play and he turns what would be a fairy tale ending story, into a drama with a tragic ending. Work Cited: Shakespeare, William, and Roma Gill. Othello. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1993. Print.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Impact of Globalization on Management Education

IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON MANAGEMENT EDUCATION – CURRICULUM TO CAREERS [pic] IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON MANAGEMENT EDUCATION – CURRICULUM TO CAREERS Abstract The global techno –economic paradigm is changing at a pace that defies easy mapping. Emergence of global village and digital economy with internet connectivity is the order of the day. This results in fundamental changes in the way the business is organized and conducted in every functional area, globally and in India as well. On the domestic front, India’s economic growth, in recent years, has been impressive.This has been due to conscious move towards market based economy. The imperative question is how to sustain it and if possible, better it. Sustainability is possible by spurring innovation and creativity to move up the value chain. Indian business models need to be re oriented, incorporating the newer dimensions of risk and inclusive growth. Excellence is seen in few quarters and that is not en ough. Increasing complexity and consequent instability marks the emergent business environment that defies solution through traditional managerial tools.Further to have sustainability in business the role of manager is to be sensitized. But the current curriculum and pedagogies of management education needs a paradigm shift from transaction based approach to transformative approach. Knowledge ecology needs balancing with an integrated curriculum encompassing multiple skills. For equitable distribution and applied innovation we need to pick up transferable skills and reverse applied learning systems with top down approach.Hence there is a great need to be updated the curriculum to meet the changing needs of the components of globalization which should be incorporated into all areas of management like  basic courses, Core functional,   inter-functional courses,  Ã‚  integrated and value addition courses. The basic courses have to be rejuvenated so as to meet the dynamically chan ging global business trends. Core functional courses such as banking and insurance should be effectively managed to meet the global demand in banking sector.Inter-functional courses like mass communication and marketing embedded with finance are greatly evolving. Integrated and value addition courses  such as training on soft skills and value added skills like SAP, PEOPLESOFT etc to get job ready. Hence, the suggested framework will balance both theoretical knowledge and acquired skill which has been proven essential for the employability by the placement organization to meet the challenges of a globalized economy.