Death of a Salesman Themes and Symbols

The main themes and symbols of Death of a Salesman include family relationships and, at large, the shortcomings of the American dream and all of its consequences, namely the financial well-being that can afford people certain luxuries.   The American Dream The American dream, which assumes that anyone can achieve financial success and material comfort, lies at the heart of  Death of a Salesman. We learn that various secondary characters attain this ideal:  Ben  goes off into the wilderness of Alaska and Africa and, as luck has it, discovers a diamond mine;  Howard Wagner  inherits his dream through his fathers company; the nerdier Bernard, mocked by Willy for his attitude, becomes a successful lawyer through hard work.   Willy Loman has a simplistic view of the American dream. He thinks that any man who is manly, good looking, charismatic, and well-liked is both deserving of success and will naturally achieve it. The life trajectory of his brother Ben influenced him in that regard. Those standards, however, are impossible, and, over the course of his lifetime, Willy and his sons fall short of it. Willy buys into his distorted philosophy so thoroughly that he neglects what is actually good in his life, such as the love of his family, in order to pursue an ideal of success that—he hopes—will bring his family security. Willys arc demonstrates how the American dream and its aspirational nature, which might be quite commendable per se, turns individuals into commodities that are only measured by their financial worth. In fact, even his demise at the end of the play is tied to the American dream: he ends his life so that he can, at least, give his family the money of his life insurance policy . Family Relationships Family relationships are what makes Death of a Salesman a universal play. In fact, when the play was produced in China in 1983, the actors had no trouble understanding the themes of the play—the relationship between a father and his sons or between husband and wife, or two brothers of different dispositions, were very intelligible to Chinese audiences and performers. The central conflict of the play concerns Willy and his elder son Biff, who showed great promise as a young athlete and ladies man while in high school. His adulthood, however was marked by thievery and lack of direction.  Willys younger son, Happy, has a more defined and secure career path, but he is a shallow character. The twisted beliefs Willy instilled in his sons, namely luck over hard work and likability over expertise, led them to disappoint both him and themselves as adults. By presenting them with the dream of grand, easy success, he overwhelmed his sons, and this is true both of Biff and Happy, who produce nothing substantial. Willy, at 63, is still working, trying to plant seeds in the middle of the night, in order to give his family sustenance. Biff realizes, at the plays climax, that only by escaping from the dream that Willy has instilled in him will father and son be free to pursue fulfilling lives. Happy never realizes this, and at the end of the play he vows to continue in his fathers footsteps, pursuing an American dream that will leave him empty and alone. Willys role as a provider in regards to Linda is equally fraught. While he is enthralled by the Woman in Boston because she â€Å"liked† him, which stoked his twisted ideal of successful business man, when he gives stockings to her instead of Linda, he is overcome with shame. Still, he fails to realize that what his wife wants is love and not financial security Symbols Stockings In Death of a Salesman, stockings represent the covering-up of imperfection, and Willy’s (failed) attempt to be a successful businessman and thus, a provider. Both Linda Loman and the Woman in Boston are seen holding them.  In the play, Willy reprimands Linda for mending her stockings, implicitly suggesting that he intends to buy her new ones. This reprimand takes on new significance when we learn that Willy, in the past, bought new stockings as a gift to The Woman when they meet for secret trysts in Boston. On the one hand, the silk stockings that Linda Loman mends are an indicator of the strained financial circumstances of the Loman family, on the other, they serve Willy as a reminder of his affair. The Jungle In Death of a Salesman, the jungle represents the antithesis of the middle-class life that Willy Loman had strived to achieve. While Willy’s life is predictable and risk-averse, the jungle, which is praised mainly by the character of Ben, Willy’s brother, is full of darkness and dangers, but, if conquered, it leads to higher rewards than any average salesman-life could.

Augustus s Life During The Civil War - 1741 Words

Augustus had a discouraging childhood as he was unhealthy and did not have many connections with the government. Augustus was born on 23, September 63 BC. He was the son of a man from Velitrae who was in the position of praetorship and died unexpectedly when Augustus was 4. At this same time, Rome was dangerous because of extensive civil war. Augustus’ great uncle, Julius Caesar, was involved in this war. Augustus’ father was married to Atia, who was the daughter of Julia, Caesar’s sister. Later on in Augustus’ life, Caesar’s distant family relationship was idle to how Augustus came into power. When Augustus’s grandmother, Julia, died, Augustus delivered the eulogy at her funeral, which was his first public appearance. Soon after, Caesar won the civil war and was given the title of dictator of Rome. In order for Caesar to claim power, he needed a heir. Since he did not have a son of his own, he adopted Augustus. Augustus was a young man with no knowledge of politics in Rome, therefore, this was a great opportunity for him to gain knowledge from Caesar, since he was deemed son of Caesar. Soon after, Caesar died; he was murdered by his own advisors. Augustus was 19 when this happened and instantly took power of Rome. Augustus’ victories have helped him glorify Rome during his reign as emperor, as well as showing dedication to Rome, which was unfortunately false, overall, he only used his victories to gain popularity in Rome. In 31 BC, Augustus defeated Cleopatra and MarkShow MoreRelatedRome s Transformation From Republic1584 Words   |  7 Pagesnever claimed the title), Augustus led Rome’s transformation from republic to empire during the chaotic years following the assassination of his great-uncle and adoptive father Julius Caesar. Augustus became one of Rome’s greatest leaders and he established the principate, the form of government under which Rome ruled its empire for many years. HISTORICAL CONTEXT Caesar Augustus, was born Gaius Julius Octavius in Rome, Italy and was alive from 63 BC - AD 14. Augustus’ father, also called GaiusRead MoreWas The First Emperor Of Rome So A Good Thing?1214 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to many historians Augustus was not only the first emperor of Rome but also the greatest. During his long and impressive career Augustus dissolved the faulty governmental system of the Republic and created a new basis of Roman government that stood for three centuries. On his death bed Augustus was purported to have said: â€Å"Did I play my part well?† Through examination of his reforms of the Roman tax and legal system, as well as his role in creating the Pax Romana and a stable military itRead MoreThe Downfall Of Julius Caesar962 Words   |  4 Pagescom, 2009). Eventually, Caesar rose up through the ranks and became a great general. Caesar eventually went to war with Pompey and was able to drive Pompey out making Caesar believe declare himself t he dictator for life. Even though under Caesar’s control daily Roman life improved, his assassination was for the best of the Roman people because he had stated himself as the dictator for life in Rome, ruining any chance of continuing democracy, he was self-centered, Rome got a new ruler and became successfulRead MoreThe Differences Between Charlemagne And Augustus1088 Words   |  5 Pages Charlemagne and Augustus were separated by many centuries (seven), in that time many changes occurred in both culture and lifestyles. Charlemagne and Augustus had a few similarities but many more differences. Examples of the similarities would be they both ruled large empires with close to the same amount of territory governed. To rule these large empires they both had to fight off rival kingdoms/empires/tribes. They were also similar in they inherited their respective territories. 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Animal Testing (586 words) Essay Example For Students

Animal Testing (586 words) Essay Animal TestingSpeaking Outline: Animal TestingSpecific Purpose: To persuade my audience about the three major ways of how scientific experiments on animal is inhumane. IntroductionI. Put yourself into an animals position. Imagine that you are being poked and probed by needles for the benefits of humans. II. Animals are being abuse more and more everyday in scientific experiments. III. I have pets and Im against animal testing, so knowing that animals are used in research is appalling. IV. Some research and scientific experiments are impractical and immoral. Animals are being overly abuse. V. Today, I am going to discuss to you about the three major ways of how scientific experiments on animal is inhumane: there is unnecessary abuse, it is unethical, and most of the experiments are unneeded. BodyI. The first major way of how scientific experiments on animals are inhumane is the unnecessary abuse. A. Animals are in an unnatural environment. 1. They are constantly being locked up, so they cant grow normally like others in their species. B. Animals are injected with unnatural, man-made chemicals. 1. The Environmental Protection Agency plan to do a test to evaluate the effects of industrial chemicals on the human hormonal system by looking at animals reproductive system. a. Between 600,000 and 1.2 million animals will be killed for every 1,000 chemical tested. b. They estimated that between 5,000 and 87,000 chemicals would be tested. c. Theres a non-animal screening procedure called HTPS that could screen out many chemicals from the need for further testing, thereby saving many animals lives, but the EPA still intends to use animal testing. C. Radioactive materials are being used on animals. 1. Such radioactive materials are microwaves. a. In India, they would put bunnies in microwaves just to observe what would happen. 2. Animals are trained using electrical materials. a. Scientists train dogs using electrical shock. II. The second major way of how scientific experiments on animals are inhumane is unethical. A. Animals are living organisms and should be treated like humans. B. They dont have a choice of whether they want to be tested or not. C. We wouldnt want to be injected with chemicals and be physically abused, so why should they?III. The third major way of how scientific experiments on animals are inhumane is unnecessary. A. Animals are being killed by useless experiments that dont even benefit humans. 1. One example is at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. They are doing useless lug experiments on dogs. a. They would remove 68% of those foxhounds lungs and forced them to run on treadmills with masks placed over their faces. b. To fit the mask, the dog canine teeth are cut down. c. After exercises are completed, the dogs are killed and their lugs are examined. B. According to R. Hamlin, D.V.M. said, ?The only conclusion I can reach is that tremendous pain and suffering are being inflicted upon helpless dogs under the guise of research, and the results being attained are admittedly of no benefits to mankind.?ConclusionI. In conclusion, animal testing should not be allowed, if not then at least limit it. Its better saving some, than none at all. II. The abuse on animals are not necessary, its unethical, and most of the time useless to humans. III. Animal testing is cruel and merciless. IV. Treat animals as if they are humans since they are living souls too. Try to put yourself ?in their shoes.?

Business Sustainability In Estate Industry â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Business Sustainability In Real Estate Industry? Answer: Introduction The research proposal highlights sustainability in the real estate for players in New Zealand. The paper pays attention to the housing industry in this country. Like in every other nation around the globe this is one of the oldest industries. There is a significant improvement over the years driven by market demands thus increasing the traders involved. Additionally, the business has dominated all around the country making it a viable research area. Increase in competition has led to some businesses inability to keep up with the others. Aim of the Research The survey aims at finding out whether investors considering getting into the real estate industry in New Zealand have a viable chance of achieving the set target based on the sustainability in the field. As such, the study considers strategies employed by business people to maintain relevance in this area of interest. Objectives of the Study The main objective of the research is to find out the sustainability of businesses in the real estate industry. As such, different aspects of sustainability such as financial, social, and political will be thoroughly investigated. Test factors affecting business continuity. The specific underlying agents responsible for the way in which enterprises respond are scrutinized. To find out viable solutions for players in the industry having difficulties in sustaining their entities as well as understand some of the activities that may be responsible for their downfall. Sustainability of businesses in the real estate Industry In business, sustainability can be defined based on many different aspects. Consequently, a relationship between an enterprise and the people interacting with it can be considered as well as its impacts on the physical environment within the region it has been established. In case the relationship between either of the two is not healthy, the investment is deemed unsustainable (Bansal Desjardin, 2014). Interaction with external physical and social environment determines the success of such an entity. Social sustainability defines fair practices on projects such as ensuring the population within the locality of the project is benefited by the project and the target market treated to fair prices with consideration of the unequal distribution of resources in the demography (Shen et al, 2007). Environmental sustainability in this field is achieved by use of resources without diminishing the chance of having the same in the future or reducing the quality available to the residents of the area of operation (Shen et al, 2007). Bansal and Desjardin also claim that in business, ability to self-preserve in all dimensions including financially over a long period is the ultimate measure of sustainability. Investors in real estates industry, like in any other enterprise should carry out an extensive research on an enterprise, before putting their resources into it. According to Warren-Myers, G., 2012, although most investments made are guided by the market value it is not quantifiable how it consequently affects sustainability. The housing sector is faced with irregularity in terms of locations and costs therefore for one to understand possible outcomes they have to collect data on their target market as well as the geographical area they venture in. Companies complying with all laws in the industry especially those touching on environmental aspects end up increasing their profits. Apparently, use of renewable energy, such as solar and the wind, reduce the cost incurred by investors thus improving their viability (Nidulomu, Prahalad Rangaswami, 2009). In this industry, there has been a recurring theme in many countries around the globe where there are dominant players while small enterprises find it difficult to grow. According to Abidin (2010), failure to carry out research, as well as complying with the set standards make it hard for new investors to thrive in the market. Players should emphasize on quality over quantity while carrying out their desired projects because long term success is based on how consumers are able to trust their products (Shen et al, 2007). As such, companies that have had collapsed buildings find it hard to even get licenses in most regions because such mistakes can be fatal to residents. Housing sector contributes directly to urban development in cities around the world. However, some countries lack an elaborate plan of strategies to be employed with time to achieve this crucial goal (Tosics, 2004). As such, proper plan and predictions are absent and could lead to misguided development in areas that may otherwise unsuitable for similar projects. Assess Factors Affecting Business Sustainability Diverse factors affect housing industry and determine how long an entrepreneur can manage to run their business. According to Chourabi et al (2012), one of the factors is the technology used or its state in interest. Companies that can afford heavy machinery are often associated with economies of scale hence they are advantaged in competition with small scale traders who cannot afford the same. The type of infrastructure a company is willing to put in place also separates high-end properties that attract higher prices as opposed to the ones that do not apply the same. Institutions can be a barrier to sustainability in this industry where they do not set standard requirements, or fail to implement them when they are in place (Van Bueren Premius, 2002). In such a case, if other stakeholders are harmed by the state in which construction is done or their natural resources are compromised it should be blamed on those authorized to consider it. Market understanding should be the key driving force for any investments made to avoid cases of developing a region and fail to achieve the desired objectives. Schandler et al insists that it is necessary to engage the local people to solve conflicts that may arise from using the land in a manner contrary to their desired future. Additionally, such research gives the investor ideas of the market gap in which they can fill to increase competitiveness. Scandler et al claim that this is the most effective way to achieve both social and financial benefits. Businesses that are venturing in the industry that has been existent for centuries should have a strategic management plan in place. As such, they can understand the old trends and develop new exciting features so they can beat the veterans. New innovations and trying designs that are not in the market make these entries relevant in the field (Shen et al, 2007). The economy of a place is essential in sustaining industries, housing included (Cholurabi et al, 2012). As a result, a project can only be upheld if the financial status of the target consumers allows them to invest. Hence, viable business should be located strategically where demand is high to avoid instances where resources lay unutilized. Aribigbola (2011) insists that builders should put up affordable structures to feed the need in the market failure to which losses will be incurred since the revenue will be lower than cost. As a result, he insists that for countries that are still developing affordability of the property is the most attractive feature for potential customers. Proper manpower within a company is an asset that drives that business. Therefore, companies should make deliberate efforts while hiring talent to work for them since they are the force that actualizes the plan of the employer. For instant, if a company gives interior design tender to the most sought-after artist, chances of attracting buyers within completion are high. Solutions to Sustainability Problems Infrastructure development, especially in urban area poses a challenge to sanitation of that location, especially where some of the important aspects have been overlooked (Childers et al, 2014). Therefore, construction companies should be held responsible to uphold the dignity of these cities by improving facilities such as proper drainage systems. Authorities mandated to offer licenses to businesses need to have strict requirements to be followed before granting certification to the builders (Childers et al, 2014). An enterprise can be deemed self-nourishing if it effortlessly attends to requirements of all interested parties including their own finances, the external population as well as the physical environment. Bocken et al (2014) claim that for harmony to prevail, owners should relate with other interested individuals such that they aim to achieve a common goal for benefit of all. Additionally, resources should be used sparingly with emphasis on the use of locally available materials as opposed to importing. Recycling waste in a business reduce the cost that would otherwise be incurred in purchasing new products that they substitute and reduce the burden that the environment would carry if they are not recycled (Bocken et al, 2014). For a business to thrive it must aim to fill an existing market gap (Bocken Short, 2016). However, there are entrepreneurs that create a product that is not necessarily needed for survival and end up losing their resources. For continuity, one should only put their money in a field that is experiencing a vacuum since in such an industry chances of loss are minimal. Companys sales and marketing strategy is the major determinant of whether the company can survive in the long run or not (Bocken Short, 2016). In the current technology age where most shoppers look for products online, a company that lacks an elaborate internet advertisement may be disadvantaged by others in the same industry making it impossible to be sustainable in the long run. In the housing sector, some adverts may be more effective than others such that more trustworthy media such as television would yield sooner than some social media platforms frequented by youths who are not major a market. Therefore, investing in all the platforms where target customers can access the information has the direct impact on sales thus increasing their revenue. The technology used industry impacts on the quality as well as cost of production incurred to get to the final product the company is aiming at (Bocken Short, 2016). Therefore, in the housing sector investing in heavy machinery reduces the number of people that would otherwise be hired in absence of the assets. Long term, the cost is lowered hence the companies employing opposite strategies realize different profit margins. End products may be different based on the technology used to produce them and the consumers in many cases prefer better quality. Companies experiencing hardships in thriving in the industry should carry out research as to what factors may be contributing to the situation (Poland, 2011). The surveys should involve consumers, employees as well as consultants in the field to identify areas that require improvement. Research should leave a place of suggestions of alternative methods that are more consumer-friendly. Research Methodology and Methods The qualitative research method is popular in field research because the data collector can get in touch with the real people and get their insights on the topic of interest (Mark et al 2005). Quantitative survey, on the other hand, involves a large volume of data in most cases which can be scientifically proven. In this project, I am going to use the qualitative method which will involve engaging people in interviews guided by formulated questions. Methods Use of Questionnaires Data mining from published work. Research Instruments and/ Tool Pens Sheets of papers Spring files Flash disks Printer Binding Material Internet Wi-Fi Participants The research aims to incorporate fifty questionnaire respondents picked randomly from three different towns in the country. The cities excursions are aimed to be carried out in towns within office hours. I aim to engage participants as they fill out the form to get a deeper insight of the opinion of the respondents. I intend to complete the exercise between two to four weeks. Ethical issues Willing participants are encouraged to be part of the study in which case if one decides to complete the forms halfway and quit to attend other personal activities or simply because they decide to stop it is allowed. Personal information section to be filled during the survey is not under any circumstances to be exposed to a third party or paper sheets be discarded where the data can land in the wrong hands. Personal opinion and data on the survey will be treated with utmost confidentiality for the purpose of the research. Under no circumstance can the researcher use the collected data for another research apart from the one being undertaken. Time Schedule Time of Completion Research Project Milestone Identification of the research topic Completion of proposal writing Presentation of the project proposal Data Collection Data Analysis Full project presentation Limitations of the study Cases of an unwillingness of some people who might be well informed on the topic to participate in the survey may arise. Some participants may provide inaccurate data thus affecting the quality of the findings. There is an inadequacy in research because a sample of fifty participants representing the wide housing industry because the time frame of the project is not enough. References Abdini, N. Z. (2010). Investigating the awareness and application of sustainable construction concept by Malaysian developers. Habitat International, 34(4), 421-426. Aribigbola, A. (2011). Housing affordability as a factor in the creation of sustainable management in developing world: the example of Akure, Nigeria. Journal of Human Ecology, 35(2), 121-131. Bocken, N. M. P., Short, S. W. (2016). Towards a sufficiency-driven business model: Experiences and opportunities. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 18, 41-61. Bocken, N. M. P., Short, S. W., Rana, P., Evans, S. (2014). a literature and practice review to develop sustainable business modelarchetypes. Journal of cleaner production, 65, 42-56. Childers, D. L., Pickett, S. T., Glove, J. M., Ogden, L., Whitmer, A. (2014). Advancing urban sustainability theory and action: Challenges and Opportunities. Landscape and Urban Planning 125, 320-328. Poland, D. What is Sustainability? (2011). Chourabi, H., Nam, T., Walker, S., Nahon, K., Scholl, H. J. (2012, January). Understanding small cities: An integrative framework. In System Science (HICSS), 2012 45th Hawaii International Conference on (pp. 2289-2297). IEEE. Mack, N., Woodsong, C., MacQueen, K. M., Guest, G., Namey, E. (2005). Qualitative research methods: a data collectors field guide. Nidumolu, R., Prahalad, C.K., Rangaswami, M. R. (2009). Why sustainability iTime Schedule key driver of innovation. Havard business review, 87(9), 56-64. Schadler, S., Rohr-Zaenker, R., Finkel, M. (2011). Designing sustainable and economics attractive brownfield revitalization options using an integrated assessment model. Journal of Environmental Management, 92(3), 827-837. Shen, L.Y., Li Hao, J., Tam, V.W. Y., Yao, H. (2007). A checklist for assessing sustainability performance of construction projects. Journal of Civil engineering and management, 13(4), 273-281. Tosics, I. (2004). European urban development: Sustainability and the role of housing. Journal of Housing and Build Environment, 19(1), 67-90. Van Bueren, E. M., Premius, H. (2002). Institutional barriers to sustainable construction. Environment and planning B: Planning and Design, 29(1), 75-86. Warren-Myers, G. (2012). The value of sustainability in real estate: a review from a valuation perspective. Journal of property Investment Finance, 30(2), 115-144